Raw.
Pure.
Royal.

Most commercial honey is ultra-filtered and heat-pasteurized to prevent crystallization and extend shelf life — processes that destroy natural enzymes, pollen, and flavor compounds. Queenie-B honey is raw and unfiltered, meaning it goes from comb to jar with only minimal straining to remove wax and debris. It retains its full nutritional profile and its natural flavor complexity. We also use cedar top-bar hives instead of conventional Langstroth boxes, which allows our bees to build comb naturally and results in a fundamentally different product. And every batch is third-party lab tested before it ships.

A top-bar hive is a horizontal hive design where bees build comb suspended from bars across the top of the box — the way they would naturally build in a hollow log or tree cavity. This is fundamentally different from the stacked-box Langstroth hive design used by 95% of commercial beekeepers, where bees build comb on pre-made plastic or wax foundation. Our hives are lined with aromatic cedar wood, which contains natural terpenes that are inhospitable to varroa mites (the primary pest threatening honeybee health worldwide). The result: healthier bees, zero chemical treatments, and honey that reflects the bees' natural foraging and comb-building behavior.

Raw honey is never heated above hive temperature (roughly 95°F) and never micro-filtered, so the natural enzymes, pollen, and propolis stay intact. Most grocery-store honey is pasteurized and ultra-filtered, which extends shelf stability but strips out the things that make raw honey worth seeking out. The lab reports you can access via the QR code on each jar confirm the enzyme activity levels and moisture content that are characteristic of truly raw honey.

Every batch report from Pacific Northwest Labs covers moisture content, HMF (a heat/age indicator), and a 200+ compound pesticide residue panel, along with checks for adulterants, heavy metals, coliform bacteria, and yeast counts. Every batch must pass all tests before we bottle it. The full methodology and a sample report are on our Lab Reports page, or scan the QR code on any jar to see the specific report for your batch.

Orders ship within 2 business days and typically arrive in 3–7 days depending on your location. Orders over $75 ship free anywhere in the lower 48. Currently we ship to all 48 contiguous states — Alaska, Hawaii, and international shipping aren't available yet, since glass jars and honey's weight make it a shipping-cost challenge we're still working through. We use insulated packaging to protect honey in extreme heat, and all glass jars are double-bubble wrapped to survive the journey intact.

It's the same honey in both formats — same batch, same lab testing, same purity. Glass is our default and what we recommend for everyday use and gifting — it's fully recyclable and doesn't interact with the honey over time. Our BPA-free plastic containers use food-grade HDPE, with no BPA or BPS. They're shatterproof and squeezable, and exist mainly for travel, lunchboxes, or anywhere glass isn't practical — never our default packaging.

Buckwheat honey comes from a single floral source rather than a mixed valley bloom, which is why it's darker, more mineral, and higher in antioxidant compounds than our wildflower blend. The flavor is bold, almost molasses-like, with mineral and malt undertones — an acquired taste for some as a table honey, but extraordinary in cooking, baking, and cocktails.

Store at room temperature, away from direct sunlight. Honey is naturally shelf-stable and will keep indefinitely when properly sealed. Never refrigerate honey; cold temperatures accelerate crystallization. If your honey turns cloudy or solid, that's crystallization — a natural process for raw, unfiltered honey, especially wildflower and clover varietals, and it doesn't mean your honey has gone bad. Set the jar in a warm water bath for 10–15 minutes and it will return to liquid. Don't microwave it, as hot spots can destroy enzymes.

We host limited farm visits during bloom season. Space is small since this is a working farm, not a tourist stop — these are announced via our newsletter and Instagram before tickets go on sale, and they tend to sell out quickly. If you're interested in a private tour or want to discuss hosting a larger group or event at the farm, reach out through our contact page and we'll do our best to accommodate.

Yes — we offer three tiers from retail to high-volume food service, for restaurants, specialty food stores, and gourmet retailers who share our commitment to quality and transparency. We provide co-branded options for restaurant accounts and can discuss custom private-label runs for larger orders. Visit our Wholesale page to submit an inquiry and we'll be in touch within 2 business days.