Words by Richard Cornish Images supplied
Ben Murphy is known as East Gippsland’s bee whisperer. He finds the best stands of native forest on foot. When those trees flower, he slowly drives through the rough remote forest to deliver his hives so his bees can feed.
The resulting honey is perhaps some of the best in the nation. It was available online and through local stores. Now he and his wife Stacey have opened a honey shop and café in the East Gippsland town of Bruthen.
Tambo Valley Honey is hand built by Ben with exposed beams in the ceiling, shelves made from old fencing, and polished benchtops made from old slabs of Australian wormy chestnut. On these sit his jewel-like jars of mono-floral honey. He makes round-leaf box honey from the iconic East Gippsland tree. From its blossoms, Ben’s bees make tight, clear, and delicate honey, with a fine aroma and crisp finish. The red stringybark tastes of old-fashioned nougat; his red gum tastes how its blossoms smell – like butter and golden syrup – making it like a liquid Anzac biscuit.
He has 12 different mono-floral varieties in all including this season’s giant mallee honey that tastes like caramel. Alongside the honey are beeswax wraps from Little Bumble in Warragul and native hardwood cheeseboards from Saltwater Creative in Lakes Entrance. Chocolatiers Exquisite Treats from Bairnsdale and Chocky Sweet Box from Lakes Entrance have taken on Tambo Valley Honey to make artisan chocolates.
Opening this week is a new venture for the Murphys – The Bottom Box Café. This little coffee shop and eatery is starting small with Duncan, the barista behind the coffee machine pumping out Jasper coffees. Start the day with chai and honey yoghurt granola, a Turkish bread toastie or cake, cupcakes and cheesecakes made by local (licenced) home bakers. “This is a new business for us,” said Ben this week, heading back from the Mallee with hives loaded with bees and honey.
We’re starting small – but it’s a ripper chance for us to showcase our honey.
THE DETAILS:
What: Truly excellent honey plus coffee and cake
Where: 64 Main Street, Bruthen
When: Now open
More Info: Tambo Valley Honey or on Instagram
We wish to acknowledge the Gunaikurnai people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.
