While in London in February I was very pleased to visit Fortnum & Mason. Their packaging is exquisite and their manner most definitely regal. I became an instant fan – and would very much like to go there one day for tea.
I am also quite a big fan of bees.
- Exhibit 1. In the summer when we drive to the Coromandel (a rugged bush covered peninsula south of Auckland), I always request we stop in at roadside stalls to buy honey from the local hippies.
- Exhibit 2. Dear friends have gone so far as to give me books about bee keeping and apiaries.
Now, beautifully, these two disparate interests have come together! I recently discovered F&M make a house brand of honey, literally. They have their own beehives on the roof of 181 Piccadilly! Adorably, the hives have been custom constructed and painted to match the F&M aesthetic.
From their rooftop spot the bees will “fly high above Mayfair, visiting the grounds, gardens and squares of the best addresses in London, gathering rather superior nectar”.
When the new harvest comes you will be able to buy a sweet jar of London honey – but for now you can keep an eye on our little winged friends using Fortnum & Mason’s web cams. Über urban bee keeping – how cool is that?
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wow awesome…very cool indeed
F&M tea is delicious. I like the idea of local honey, apparently eating it can build up your immune system and help combat the dreaded hayfever. People laughed at me when I talked about London honey and it’s properties (as if country bees are far superior!) but they have good places to visit…London isnt all pollution and towering buildings!
I looove Fortnum and Mason with all my heart! My dad often gets a hamper from them from his work at christmas, and I always go through and steal all the yummy sweet stuff as my parents don’t eat it. Their lemon curd is divine!
I knew there was a reason you were super cool! (Aside from the obvious!)… I TOO AM A FAN OF BEES!!! I’m always telling people that bees are the bomb for the following reasons:
1) They are furry, and almost nothing with fur can be hated
2) They only sting if they think they are going to die, in self-defence… unlike those nasty wasps who sting all over town just for the hell of it
3) They make honey, which is yummy
and 4) If honeybees die out… (of which there is a risk as populations are declining!!) then humans will die out in approx. 4 years (!!!). Apparently Einstein or someone worked that out.
In short, WE NEED BEES!
I want to bee keep. I wish to keep bees. Right, that’s it, I’m going on a bee-keeping course, there’s nothing you can do or say to stop me!!
This was far too long for a comment. I’m sorry. I’m off to buy some F&M honey now, cos damn, those are some posh bees.
Becca: The hayfever benefit is amazing! Also, I saw a TV show a little while ago about a guy who was trying to open a restaurant using only London ingredients (the city has all sorts of crazy tiny food industries). It’s called the The Urban Chef – if you haven’t seen it it might be interesting to check out :)
LJ: Yay, bee party! You are so right on all counts. I’m so glad you’ve commented, I feel like I can fully let my bee love out of the closet. Say hi to the London bees for me!
That beekeeper dude in the photo…. hot.
Amber, I hope to go to NZ while I’m in Australia – will you please soak me in your awesomeness?
Young: Yes, you have to come over! I promise NZ will be good to you.
Awesome! There’s been a little buzz (oh god, I didn’t mean that) around urban beekeeping in New York as well. I just learned a few months ago that if you eat local honey, allergies may not be as terrible because it acts as a sort of “immunity booster” by putting the local pollen into your system. Neat!
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