Frequently asked questions about SUMMSTOFF honey
Answers about regional honey, varieties, origin and our beekeepers' cooperative.
What makes SUMMSTOFF honey special?
SUMMSTOFF is a beekeepers' cooperative of professional beekeepers in Germany. Our honey is harvested as single-variety and regional honey – following the principle “as regional as possible, as national as necessary”. If you buy in North Rhine-Westphalia, you get honey from NRW; specialities such as heather honey come straight from the Lüneburg Heath. Every jar is traceable and comes directly from the professional beekeeper.
Why is regional honey better?
Regional honey travels short distances, is fresh and supports pollination and biodiversity locally. At SUMMSTOFF the honey comes from defined German regions instead of anonymous import blends – with a clear origin and without mixing with foreign honey. On top of that: regional honey is a fingerprint of its landscape. It carries the pollen of exactly those plants that bloom in the region – from early forage sources such as hazel, birch and willow to fruit trees, wild herbs and grasses. In our pollen analyses, the regional origin of each variety can even be verified. This way the plant spectrum of your own region ends up in the jar – and not that of an anonymous import blend from distant countries.
What distinguishes professional beekeeper honey from hobby beekeeper honey?
Professional beekeepers manage their bee colonies as a full-time occupation – with standardised harvesting, extraction and filling processes and continuous quality control. As a cooperative, SUMMSTOFF brings together professional beekeepers. This ensures consistent quality, single-variety honeys and reliable availability throughout the year.
How do I recognise genuine honey from Germany?
Genuine honey from Germany carries a clear indication of origin (“German honey” rather than “blend of EU and non-EU countries”), is labelled by variety and ideally comes directly from the beekeeper. At SUMMSTOFF, every jar states the variety and region – so you know exactly where your honey comes from.
What is the difference between blossom honey and acacia honey?
Blossom honey (e.g. spring or summer blossom) is a blended honey made from the nectar of many flowers – mild to aromatic, often creamy. Acacia honey (black locust) is particularly light and mild, and stays liquid for a long time thanks to its high fructose content. SUMMSTOFF offers both as single-variety honeys – acacia honey from Brandenburg, Bavaria and the Saarland, among others.
Why does SUMMSTOFF have no paper labels?
We print every jar in our own print shop using a purist direct print in white – without a colourful paper label. This keeps the honey itself visible, from light acacia honey to dark forest honey. It is more sustainable and underlines our principle: pure product, honest origin.
Which honey varieties and regions does SUMMSTOFF offer?
The range includes spring and summer blossom honey, rapeseed honey, linden blossom honey, acacia honey, forest honey and genuine heather honey, among others – from over 20 German regions – including the Lüneburg Heath, the Black Forest, Brandenburg, Bavaria, the Saarland, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Schleswig-Holstein, Swabia (Schwabenland), the Münsterland, the Teutoburg Forest Nature Park, the Rhine-Main Region, the Magdeburger Börde, the Lower Rhine (Niederrhein) and Altes Land. Which variety is available depends on the forage season and the time of year.
Where can I buy SUMMSTOFF honey?
Directly in the SUMMSTOFF online shop at summstoff.de with delivery to your home. SUMMSTOFF honey is also available in thousands of supermarkets across Germany, including REWE, EDEKA, V-Markt and Akzenta.
Is SUMMSTOFF a cooperative?
Yes. SUMMSTOFF is SUMMSTOFF Imkereigenossenschaft e.G., based in Ibbenbüren, founded in 2021 (cooperative register GnR 194, Steinfurt local court). The managing board member is Maximilian Urban. As a cooperative, we promote the joint business operations of professional beekeepers.