Pot of Gold: SF’s New Honey Shop

My daughter was enthralled with the little bee hive we saw on display at the Randall the other day, so I decided to swing by the new beekeeping shop, Her Majesty’s Secret Beekeeper, with her.  (To taste honey—we have no grand ambitions of beekeeping in our backyard.)

It’s a beautiful little shop in the Mission that sells an array of honey (lots of it is local) and beekeeping gear, along with soaps, candles, balms and lotions. Local artist Kiriko Moth has designed a sprawling, art nouveau inspired mural along the store’s back wall, along with the store’s “steampunk” bee logo.

We went for a tasting of about five or six honeys.  As is often the case with toddlers, my daughter decided to refuse the little silver spoonfuls of honey, even though it’s usually one of her favorite things. Her loss – they were all delicious.  The honeys ranged from a delicate, almost citrus-flavored honey from Chicago, to one that tasted like brown sugar.  My favorite was a locally produced one from SF’s Glen Canyon that fell right in the middle of the spectrum of flavors.

If you’re looking to bring something back home with you, the jars of local honey make a great gift, as do HMSB’s lovely signature candles in the shape of San Francisco’s city flower, the Dahlia.  Looking for something for the kids?  Grab a handful of honey sticks—my daughter excepting, they’re sure to be a big hit.

Her Majesty’s Secret Beekeeper, 3520 20th Street between Mission and Valencia Streets, 415-744-1465, www.hmsbeekeeper.com