Judging honey in a competition is a careful, structured process. Entries in the Tasmanian Honey Competition will use appearance, aroma, flavour, and density as the main criteria. Each entry will be given a score out 100 points.
Entries must meet the presentation standards, as outlined in section 5 of the rules, before being considered for judging.
1. Appearance (25 points)
- Clarity: Honey should be free from impurities like wax, propolis, air bubbles, dirt or dust.
- Colour: Evaluated against the expected colour for the type of honey.
2. Aroma (25 points)
- Swirl the honey gently in a clear glass and smell it.
- Key points: Clean, fresh, and characteristic of the floral source. Avoid any off smells (fermentation, sourness, or burnt notes).
- Judges often use a “sniff test” to detect subtle floral, fruity, or herbal notes.
3. Flavour (25 points)
- Sweetness: Balanced, not overly harsh or cloying.
- Complexity: Good honey has layers of flavour reflecting the nectar source—floral, fruity, herbal, nutty, or even caramel notes.
- Aftertaste: Should be pleasant, not bitter or metallic.
- Judges often do a “slurp test” to coat the tongue, which helps detect subtle flavours.
- Exceptional honey has a clean, bright aroma, a complex and balanced flavour, and a pleasing mouthfeel.
- Wildflower honey should not taste like Leatherwood honey, and vice versa.
4. Density (25 points)
- Viscosity: Honey should be liquid.
- Texture: Honey should coat the mouth lightly and dissolve easily.
- Water content: A refractometer may be used to test the water content. Entries with a reading of over 18% will be disqualified.
- High marks will be given to the honey with the highest density. This can be estimated by inverting the jar and noting how quickly an air bubble rises to the surface.
Judges are given a judging sheet that is designed to help them grade each of the criteria above – supporting fair, consistent and educational judging for beekeepers and judges alike.
What’s next?
Before entering, and before preparing your honey, please read the competition rules.
Ready to go?
Now that you understand how it all works, please enter the competition.