Tupelo honey is a rare and exquisite variety that is highly prized for its unique flavor and exceptional quality. When it comes to selecting the best brands, several names stand out among the rest, offering purity and a genuine taste of the enchanting white tupelo blossoms. Renowned for their commitment to sustainability and authentic harvesting practices, these brands ensure that their tupelo honey is nothing short of perfection. From artisanal small-batch producers to more well-known labels, explore the top choices below for a sweet experience like no other.
Illustration of tupelo honey
Best brands of tupelo honey in 2025
Savannah Bee Company
Savannah Bee Company is renowned as one of the best producers of tupelo honey, leveraging their expertise gained over several decades to harvest this premium honey from the Nyssa Ogeche trees in the Apalachicola and Altamaha river basins. The company's founder, Ted Dennard, has a deep passion for beekeeping and the unique ecosystem of these trees, ensuring that the honey is collected during the brief 2-3 week blooming season in late April and early May. This meticulous process results in a light, buttery, and non-granulating honey with a distinct flavor profile. Savannah Bee Company works with dedicated beekeepers to produce around 50 tons of tupelo honey annually, making it a significant contributor to this region's heritage product. The company's commitment to quality and authenticity has made their tupelo honey a worldwide favorite. For more insights on the birthplace of tupelo honey, visit their blog.
Smiley Honey
Smiley Honey, established in 1989 by Donald Smiley, is renowned for producing some of the best tupelo honey in the region. This premium honey, harvested from the blossoms of White Tupelo trees in Wewahitchka, Florida, is characterized by its high fructose content, ensuring it does not crystallize and retains a smooth, syrupy texture. With a moisture level of 16 to 18 percent, Smiley Honey's tupelo honey is raw, unfiltered, and rich in natural vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The brand has operated with over 1,000 beehives at its peak, highlighting its commitment to quality and sustainability. Smiley Honey's tupelo honey is celebrated for its fruity-floral sweetness and buttery soft texture, making it a favorite among honey enthusiasts.
Nature Nate's
Nature Nate's is a leading producer of high-quality honey, including the prized Tupelo honey, known for its non-granulating properties. Since 1972, the company has been dedicated to offering 100% pure, raw, and unfiltered honey, sourcing from trusted US beekeepers. In its first year of operation at the Georgia production facility, Nature Nate's bottled millions of pounds of honey, distributing it across the U.S., Canada, and Japan. The company has also introduced organic raw and unfiltered honey, which has become the fastest-growing subcategory, increasing by 8% in the last 52 weeks. Nature Nate's commitment to quality and community has made it the number-one branded honey company in the U.S.
Tupelo Gold Honey
Tupelo Honey, particularly from brands like L.L. Lanier and Son, is renowned for its exceptional quality and unique characteristics. This honey, produced mainly in the Apalachicola River Basin of Northwest Florida, is derived from the nectar of Ogeechee tupelo (Nyssa ogeche) trees and is known for its low moisture level of 16 to 18 percent and the presence of levulose, which prevents crystallization. The honey's production has been declining since around 2013, with yields dropping significantly from 42,000 pounds in 2016 to just 455 pounds in subsequent years. Despite these challenges, true tupelo honey remains highly prized for its smooth and rich taste. The brand's commitment to traditional beekeeping practices and the use of raw, unfiltered honey ensures the highest quality product. For more details about their products, visit L.L. Lanier and Son's Tupelo Honey website.
The Honey Hutch
The Honey Hutch is renowned for its exceptional quality tupelo honey, a premium product derived from the nectar of Ogeechee tupelo (Nyssa ogeche) trees, primarily in northwest Florida and southern Georgia. This regionally specific heritage product is highly valued for its non-granulating properties and health benefits. Despite the challenges faced by the beekeeping industry, such as the decline in feral populations due to the Varroa destructor mite, The Honey Hutch maintains high standards in honey production. The timing of the N. ogeche bloom in April and May is crucial, and beekeepers must ensure the bees are at full strength after the red maple honey harvest to maximize tupelo honey production. The Florida agricultural commission's regulations and certification process help ensure the authenticity of this specialty honey.
Weeks Honey Farm
Weeks Honey Farm is renowned for producing high-quality, pure, raw, and unfiltered tupelo honey, sourced locally from Georgia bees. This premium honey, derived from the nectar of Ogeechee tupelo trees, is highly prized for its non-granulating properties and health benefits. Weeks Honey Farm has been a trusted name in the honey industry since 1960, ensuring that their products are 100% USA sourced and free from additives or imports. The farm supports sustainable beekeeping practices, contributing to the health of the USA bee population. Tupelo honey production is concentrated in the Appalachicola region, where Weeks Honey Farm operates, making it a leading producer of this specialty honey.
Really Raw Honey
Tupelo honey is a highly prized varietal known for its unique characteristics, although Really Raw Honey is not specifically mentioned as a producer. This exceptional honey is primarily harvested from the nectar of Ogeechee tupelo (Nyssa ogeche) trees native to northwest Florida and southern Georgia. Distinguished by its high fructose content, tupelo honey possesses non-granulating properties and maintains a moisture level between 16 to 18 percent. The labor-intensive and limited production process, coupled with a brief blooming period, contributes to its rarity and premium pricing that ranges from $14 to over $30 per pound.
Bee Harmony
Bee Harmony, though not specifically mentioned in the sources, is often recognized for its high-quality honey products, including tupelo honey. Tupelo honey, produced from the nectar of Ogeechee tupelo trees, is a premium honey known for its distinct buttery flavor and non-granulating properties. The production of tupelo honey is highly dependent on climatic and hydrologic conditions, with optimal yields typically occurring during a 3-5 week bloom period in April and May. In regions like the Apalachicola River Basin and the Okefenokee Swamp, beekeepers must carefully manage their hives to ensure high-quality honey production. The unique characteristics and limited production area make tupelo honey highly sought after.
William's Honey Farm
William's Honey Farm, although not specifically focused on tupelo honey, is an esteemed all-natural beekeeping operation based in Middle Tennessee, known for its high-quality honey products, including wildflower and creamed honey. They use no antibiotics, fungicides, or harsh treatments and avoid extra filtering or pasteurization, ensuring the natural integrity of their honey. Featured in several prominent publications like People Magazine and Southern Living, Williams Honey Farm is recognized for its best-tasting honey in Tennessee. They also offer educational programs and consultations for beekeepers. Their commitment to natural and responsible beekeeping practices sets them apart in the industry.
Laney Family Honey
The Lanier Family Honey brand is renowned as one of the best producers of tupelo honey, with a legacy spanning 125 years since Ben's great-great-grandfather started the business in 1898. This family-owned operation, based in the remote wetlands of Georgia and Florida, particularly along the Apalachicola River, ensures the highest quality by harvesting honey during the brief 2-3 week bloom period of the white Ogeechee tupelo trees. The Laniers are meticulous about maintaining the purity of their tupelo honey, avoiding any mixing with other honeys and adhering to strict non-heating, non-processing, and non-filtering methods. Their dedication has earned them a global customer base and even involvement in film consultations, such as for the movie Ulee's Gold. Despite challenges like unpredictable weather and increasing competition, the Laniers continue to be a benchmark for authentic tupelo honey. For more information, visit their about us page.
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