If you’re a fan of Honey, and live in Pennsylvania, then you need to check out Doom Bloom Honey. This unique honey is sourced from the Spotted Lanternfly, an invasive species that has been causing problems for farmers in the area. But Don Shump, owner of Philadelphia Bee Co., saw an opportunity to turn this bad situation into something good. And he was successful!
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Doom Bloom Honey is a smooth and earthy honey that is sure to captivate curious taste buds. It’s somewhat expensive for an 8oz jar at $14 plus shipping. If you’re curious to learn more about this rare Honey, check out my review below.
- Honey: Locally sourced from the rooftops of Philadelphia, PA.
- Color: Dark Red Amber and Deep Brown.
- Aroma: Intoxicating Molasses and Dew
- Flavor: Earthy Intense, Acidic, Deep Complex Body.
- Texture: Thick and beautifully processed for a silky smooth finish.
Disclaimer:
This is not a sponsored post, I purchased this back in 2020 during their initial launch before selling out!
Doombloom Spotted Lanternfly Honey (dew)
Doom Bloom Spotted Lanternfly Honey is a unique honey that is sourced from Pennsylvania’s Spotted Lanternflies. These insects are not harmful to bees, but they wreak havoc on the trees they infest from the dew they release. The honey has a deep red and brown color with a lush and thick texture. It is earthy, robust and intense, making it a favorite among chefs.
It originally became a fan favorite when a local biscuit pop up began utilizing Philadelphia Bee Co.’s now infamous Honey. 2 years later, Doom Bloom is still selling strong. I’m opening one of the original batches I purchased from the year 2020, I’m so excited! Let’s get into it.
How Did They Harvest Honey from Insects?
Spotted Lanternflies are the unsung heroes of the tree of heaven (Ailanthus) . They chomp down on the tree, causing it to “weep sap” and excrete sugary honeydew for bees to take back to their hives. Spotted Lanternflies don’t receive any particular benefit from this relationship other than helping out their winged friends. But they do absolutely demolish the host in the process. Very different than Honeybees.
Even though Honeybees were also brought to the US and are an invasive species as well.
Mostly amazing things happened with them.
How Bad Are Spotted Lanternflies?
The Spotted Lanternfly is an invasive Chinese insect that was first detected in the United States back in 2014. Despite quarantine efforts, They spread to 3 states and caused massive amounts damage on host trees while feeding heavily as we were slow to see the impact.
Unfortunately as of 2022, it’s spread to 14 states.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has stated that Spotted Lanternflies or SLF don’t kill the trees and plants. But when they munch on the trees, the flies release honeydew (honey doo doo) that promotes mold and fungus growth. Bees filter the nectar and dew in their honey stomachs. As a result, the Honey is purified.
Concerning Growth
The other issue is that since bee’s want a part of the goods, so do the other insects which may harm the host tree even further.
It isn’t just the Tree of Heaven they love. Why it’s a bigger issue is because many of these trees below are also in the crossfire across the US.
- Almonds
- Apples
- Apricots
- Cherries
- Grapes
- Hops
- Maple Trees
- Nectarines
- Oak Trees
- Peaches
- Pine Trees
- Plums
- Poplar Trees
- Sycamore Trees
- Walnut Trees
- Willow Trees
Since 2014, it’s been rapidly spreading.
How To Help
If you’re willing to learn more and want to get involved to slow the spread, head to the USDA Aphis resource page. Apparently in 2021 many of the areas in the red zone had beekeepers squishing them like they were competing for kill counts.
What Does It Taste Like?
Opening the jar, I was met with a pungent and earthy aroma, with maybe a little anise. The Honey is a beautiful dark red and brown. If you look below you’ll see the red glow of the Honey when it’s illuminated. It’s a beautiful full bodied fall blend. The flavor is really interesting. I’d say it’s similar to buckwheat in color, but in my opinion more smoky and acidic.
Doom Bloom is rather bitter, but the acidity and tartness on the end seem to cut it. Part of that acidic flavor is due to the complex smokiness. Doom Bloom still possesses the sweetness of a wildflower blend, but you can certainly tell this isn’t just wildflower. Dew Honey is unique in its own as its not nectar based honey, and typically has a much different flavor profile.
A Honey That Got A Lot of Attention, But Beekeeper’s Don’t Prioritize It.
Saying that, this may not be for everyone. In fact, many consider fall the “trash season” for their honey. And more so, asking around local beekeepers in PA and the affected areas, as of last year, they aren’t focused on harvesting during the blooming months for ailanthus. They don’t add supers, this way the honeybees just use the flow from the Spotted Lanternfly Honeydew and affected tree blossoms to stay fed during winter. It’s smart and an effective way to overwinter, but many aren’t too confident about the use of pesticides on SLF, even though lab results have shown contaminants in quarantined areas to be very low.
Dark honey is better for you as its packed with antioxidants, and its my personal favorite season for Honey. Aster is another one of my favorites. It’s rare and incredibly sweet, like candy which means it crystallizes easy and people don’t like that so we don’t see it.
I can see where Chefs prefer the more complex darker blends of Honey.
In some ways this Honey reminds me of a complex Bourbon.
The texture is amazing. I’ve had this Honey stored away since 2020 with lots of temperature changes and it has stayed buttery smooth.
As I wrap this up, the flavor and sweetness of the Doom Bloom has stayed on my palette and its been teasing me to get some more. I love that lingering taste of complex honey.
Where To Get Doom Bloom
You can purchase an 8oz jar directly from Philadelphia Bee Co.
Local Philly residents, you can check out their local offerings that serve the following zip codes: 19124, 19134, 19135,19137, 19149, 19111. They sell Honey, Wax Candles, Shirts, Stickers and Tumblers. It’s great marketing I think.
They are also now selling a Doom Bloom Hot Honey. I reviewed Firebees Hot Honey and really enjoyed it. I’ll definitely pick more from them in the future.
If you like this Honey, check out something sweeter for breakfast; Tree Hive Syrup Honey, and be on the lookout for my new Sourwood review.
Check out Philadelphia Bee Co.
Pennsylvania Spotted Lanternfly | Doom Bloom Honey
Review Summary
The Philadelphia Bee Co. Doom Bloom Honey is a unique smoky and earthy-tasting honey that is perfect for fall. The honey has a deep red and brown color, and a thick texture. It is also great for cooking and baking. However, some people may find the flavor to be too intense or bitter.
I don’t really factor the price of this Honey in too much, as he’s really brought attention to the market for Honeydew and Spotted Lanternflies and turned a profit from something seen negatively and overlooked.
Overall, this is a great honey for those who enjoy a more complex full flavor and buttery smooth finish. If you’re into trying rare Honey or wanna support Don,