Bites: Bocage’s liquid gold

Honeycomb from Bocage Bee & Honey Company. Staff photo

Sure, it can be intimidating. But put aside the plastic honey bear for a second and consider instead the honeycomb. Yes, those waxy cells are just as edible as the flavorful liquid inside.

A scoop of honeycomb on top of oatmeal or yogurt is a delicious way to start the day. It’s great on a salad, too. Set a large chunk of it in the middle of a cheese plate for a house party—the honey will ooze out onto the cheese, adding another layer of flavor, but guests can easily smear a piece onto a cracker as well. And let’s not forget booze. Place honeycomb into a Mason jar with bourbon for a week or more, strain it, and you’ve got honey-infused bourbon for those springtime evenings in the back yard.

Bocage Bee & Honey Company sells packages of its raw honeycomb at the shop on Drusilla Lane as well as the Red Stick Farmers Market downtown on Saturdays.

We tried two varieties recently: first, the pale golden Bayou Blue, harvested from the tupelos in the Atchafalaya Basin. It’s mellow, with hints of vanilla and citrus. The darker honeycomb comes from one of the Bocage hives in the center of Baton Rouge, and it’s packed with a deep, rich flavor.

Both are excellent companions for your springtime dishes and drinks, but if you are still unsure about using honeycomb, Bocage sells each variety in squeezable bottles. Best of all: you can sample most of the varieties in the shop. facebook.com/BocageBee