Beyond Sweet: A quick guide to tasting honey
Sarah Peters
Please join us for a special evening with Sarah Peters - Certified Honey Connoisseur to learn more about the art of honey tasting and how to judge your honey or others when sampling. Sarah will speak and demonstrate (with samples for everyone) the complexities behind really tasting honey beyond sweetness.
Honey sensory analysis evaluates a honey's appearance, aroma, flavour, texture, and finish to reveal its distinctive character and quality. Trained assessors identify attributes such as floral, fruity, herbal, caramel, woody, or earthy notes, while also considering sweetness, acidity, bitterness, mouthfeel, and any undesirable flavours. The resulting sensory profile can help distinguish floral origins, guide quality control, support product development, and communicate each honey's unique qualities to consumers.
Please sign up for Potluck starting at 5:30pm HERE
Meet Sarah Peters
Certified Honey Connoisseur, Beekeeper, and Owner of Honey Is Love Apiary
Preserving the Art and Science of American Honey
Sarah Peters is an accomplished beekeeper, Certified Honey Connoisseur, and owner of Honey Is Love Apiary, where she produces pure, premium American honey in carefully crafted batches that highlight the distinctive qualities of each harvest. Guided by a deep appreciation for both the art and science of honey production, Sarah is dedicated to advancing quality, education, and excellence throughout the beekeeping industry.
A Passion Rooted in Beekeeping Excellence
A respected leader in the beekeeping community, Sarah is a lifetime member of the Eastern Apicultural Society, the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association, and the Forsyth County Beekeepers Association. She previously served as president of the Rockingham County Beekeepers Association and continues to promote beekeeping education, sound practices, and industry advancement.
Sarah is also a member of the American Apitherapy Society, American Beekeeping Federation and the American Honey Tasting Society, through which she earned her Honey Connoisseur certification. Her dedication to excellence has earned her multiple awards for honey and beeswax in competitions hosted by the Eastern Apicultural Society and the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association. She also collaborates with researchers and panelists affiliated with ABF, EAS, and AHTL to explore and celebrate the diversity of honey.
As a Gold Star military wife who has traveled extensively throughout the United States, Sarah has encountered a wide range of regional beekeeping traditions, honey varieties, and floral sources. These experiences have deepened her appreciation for how geography and nectar sources shape honey's flavor, aroma, color, and character - and they continue to inspire her work today.
Sharing the Story of Honey
Beyond the apiary, Sarah enjoys visiting commercial beekeeping operations, attending auctions, experiencing fine dining, and expanding her expertise through honey tasting and research. She is especially passionate about education and regularly hosts honey-tasting events that introduce audiences to the craftsmanship, complexity, and stories behind American honey.
Whether speaking with beekeepers, chefs, food enthusiasts, or curious consumers, Sarah's mission remains the same: to help others discover, understand, and appreciate the extraordinary world of honey.
