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Gangshan District, Kaohsiung is famous for its breathtaking limestone terrain. This produces high alkaline soil which produces world class longan fruit. This crop regularly flowers and attracts bees that produce the finest quality honey, with a unique floral flavor. There are numerous longan orchards in Gangshan and therefore the center of Taiwan's longan honey industry.
Longan trees almost blossom one month after Tomb Sweeping. This is beekeepers' busiest season. However this year, according to beekeeping veteran of over 50 years Mr. Chen Cong-wun (aka "Papa a-Wen"), spring was unusually cold, resulting in a late bloom. This followed with numerous days with temperatures of approximately 28 degrees and the longest honey harvest season, with the best quality honey in 10 years!
Papa a-Wen adopts the extraction system, which takes a few days longer to harvest (10 days instead of 5 to 7 days), resulting in better quality of honey. Papa a-Wen's "XO Grade" label offers a pure honey which soothes the throat, is sweet, smooth and bares the scent of longan blossoms. Natural honey looks slightly cloudy. After shaking, it foams up with tiny bubbles and maintains the air bubbles for more than half hour.
With its gentle texture and rich aroma, Taiwan produces some of the best honey in the world. It is Papa a-Wen's dream to bring his honey to as many people as possible. Helping him fulfill his dream is son, Chen Jheng-cheng who not only inherited his father's enthusiasm and appreciation of honey but also assisted in upgrading the family business. By acquiring a subsidy from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, he renovated the farm and redesigned the packaging. This has upgraded the family business, providing a high-end portfolio and putting it on par with the world's top-notch honey brands.
Other beekeepers in Gangshan District also share Mr. Chen's vision to promote the industry. An A-Lien District Beekeeping owner, Mr. Chen Guo-jheng has also devoted his entire life to the profession. During his interview, Mr. Chen demonstrated the harvesting process. At first, he opens the hive slightly, allowing a small amount of air to circulate and alert the bees to their impending visitor. It is then fully opened, and Mr. Chen quickly pumps in smoke. This subdues the bees and stops them from becoming agitated and attacking. In each hive he checks the eggs in the queen's compartment, the worker bees' diet and if the "nannies" are doing their job taking care of the next generation. He gets so focused on his task; he barely notices the sweat pouring off his face.
"I have spent my entire life chasing flowers", he declares. He often loads as many as 300 hives in the back of his truck and drives from Gangshan District (in Kaohsiung) to Taima Township, Taitung County, sometimes he goes as far as Fuli Township in Hualian County. He travels from town to town in search of the best bee pastures. Sometimes this leads him into the remote areas deep in the countryside. His hard work however, has not been in vain and over the years, he has won countless awards and recognition.
Mr. Chen Guo-jheng, a second generation beekeeper and veteran of 36 years, taking over from his father who worked in the profession for 70 years. Since 1988, he has also been participating in the National Honey Quality Award. Each time he attends, he learns something new and improves the quality of his honey. The highlight of his career came in 2005, when he won the Shen-Non Prize (a prestigious award given to people who have demonstrated an outstanding achievement in agriculture).
Natural honey has a shelf life of about 2 years; however, if the water percentage is too high, it causes fermentation and premature souring. Therefore, he keeps the water content around 18.2%. Mr. Chen Guo-jheng is very proud of his quality product and maintains a high percentage of repeat business. He is content with his establishment and feels his greatest reward is to see the honey he produces enjoyed by others.
※Where to buy?
•Chen Zong-wen (Papa a-Wen) 07-3847253
•Chen Guo-jheng 07-6316176
•Alian District Farmers' Association 07-6311141 ext.30
大崗山龍眼蜂蜜
【文／侯雅婷；攝影／鮑忠暉、謝冠儀】
高雄大崗山獨特的石灰岩鹼性地質，適合龍眼樹的栽種，也因此造就此區養蜂產業蓬勃發展，大崗山龍眼蜜嚐起來特別清香，遠近馳名。
清明節前後一個月是龍眼花開的季節，養蜂人家最是忙碌。養蜂50年的阿文老爹陳聰文說，今年因天氣冷，龍眼花開較慢，採收期均維持在28度左右，今年成了龍眼蜜的豐收期，品質更為十多年最佳的一次！
阿文老爹採收超過10天蜂片（一般約5~7天)，製成店裏的招牌「XO級」龍眼蜂蜜，延長採收天數，為的是使龍眼蜂蜜的品質更臻完善。阿文老爹說，蜜的香氣無可取代，質純的龍眼蜂蜜聞起來散發著天然花香，嚐起來回甘不死甜。天然的蜂蜜色澤較濁，倒入瓶中搖晃後，會出現細緻的泡沫且久久才散。
阿文老爹表示，台灣蜂蜜溫潤的口感和馥郁的香氣，堪稱世界級的品質，因此他曾思索要如何將蜂蜜行銷給更多人，直到兒子陳政誠加入養蜂工作，才賦予阿文老爹的養蜂事業嶄新的面貌，承襲父親的養蜂專業之外，陳政誠更申請經濟部專案輔導作養蜂農業轉型，透過更富設計感的包裝來襯托台灣蜂蜜的好品質。
同樣致力於蜂蜜推廣的還有阿蓮養蜂班班長陳國正，來到大崗山蜂場，只見他在掀起蜂箱前預留厚紙板厚的氣縫，藉氣流的變化讓蜂箱內的蜜蜂感知有人來了，接著他老練的掀開蜂箱，同時提著薰煙壺，往蜜蜂噴煙，目的是避免蜜蜂躁動、螫人。烈日的樹蔭下，陳國正辛勤地檢視每個蜂箱內蜂王產卵、工蜂飲食及培育狀況，臉上不時滴下豆大的汗珠。
「逐花而居是我的生活寫照。」陳國正如是說。陳國正載著300箱蜂箱，從大崗山、移往台東太麻里和花蓮富里鄉，奔波在高速公路和田間小路，只為了找尋高品質的蜜源，正是這種追求品質的精神讓他獲獎無數。
傳承父親養蜂70年的經驗，陳國正養蜂已長達36年，他從73年起就參加全國蜂蜜評鑑比賽，藉由比賽中經驗交流不斷地提昇製蜜品質，民國94年更榮獲神農獎的肯定。一般而言，天然蜂蜜可存放2年，但常因蜂蜜水份稍多之故，而發酵變味，因此他將蜂蜜水份比控制在18.2來改善此情形。陳國正的蜂蜜純天然且講究品質，只要吃過他蜂蜜的客人，幾乎一試即成主顧客。陳國正說，自己製作的蜂蜜受到肯定，是他最大的成就感。
※哪裡買?
•陳聰文(阿文老爹) 07-3847253
•陳國正 07-6316176
•阿蓮農會 07-6311141分機30
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