‘Maple’ is a generic name for species of the Acer genus. Maple species that beekeepers primarily visit is the sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus). As its geographical range partly overlaps with that of the field maple (Acer campestre), and the flowering period is largely the same (April-May), maple honey can contain nectar and pollen from both species. The two species are different from the one which is used to extract the Canadian maple syrup (Acer saccharum). This maple syrup comes from the sap of the tree, not from the nectar of the blossoms.
Maple honey has a strong, slightly unpleasant smell. It also has a strong, distinctive taste that some may find unpleasant. It crystallizes slowly into large crystals. It is orange when liquid. It is a rare honey, found mainly in France and Northern Italy.
