Hilltop is an independent British company, with a down-to-earth passion that comes across, trust me, in their range of honey and maple syrups. This company based in Wales was founded in 2011 by Scott Davies after a back injury diverted him from his ‘proper’ job. As luck would have it, Scott  received a bee hive as a birthday gift, which led to his passion for bees, and their honey. First he sold to friends, then local shops, and within a few years was supplying farm shops and delis across the country.

Frost Magazine LOVES to hear of, and write about, entrepreneurs who introduce us to their artisan products, so of course, and here we are, talking of Hilltop’s honey. Soon Hilltop Honey as it was then known secured listings in Sainsbury’s Holland& Barratt, Selfridges, Amazon and Ocado, extending its range in the process to include speciality and Manuka honey, along with bee pollen and cut comb. And all seriously good.

In addition, with an eye to sustainability, their products are available in reusable glass jars or recyclable squeeze bottles. Within four short years, Hilltop Honey received the Soil Association seal of approval and launched a new range of organic honey.

2020 has seen our lives take many twists and turns, and so too Hilltop Honey, which had rebranded to be called Hilltop, with a new look and logo but the same passion, and high standards. It is based high up at Newtown, Mid-Wales with 51 staff, with an ethos that dictates that COMMUNITY  is at the heart of everything the business does. from sponsoring the local football team to donating 25% of sales of its Adopt a Bee initiative to the Honeypot Charity.

So, onto the  honey and maple syrup:

Hilltop honey is pure and natural, and products involve grainy, runny or set variants. The colour, aroma and taste of each honey is completely different, as the Frost Magazine team can vouch, as bees gather from a diverse variety of flowers. Every drop is perfect in its own unique way and is about as close and unspoilt as you can get to eating it straight from the hive.

New to market, Hilltop has recently launched Amber and Very Dark Maple Syrups, perfect for pouring over pancakes and wonderful on waffles. Frost Magazine team members were mostly new to Maple Syrup, but loved it. Of course one of us had been told by an American friend it should be lathered on pancakes but we found it was pretty perfect on scones.

I loved the organic Acacia honey, the organic Blossom, the MGO rated Manuka honey…  Well, every honey actually and syrup, so best stop there. Suddenly the samples were gone, vanished as the team took their favourites, but I had secreted the Manuka in a drawer, so very there. And home it came with me, where in my garden  I had planted plants loved by bees two years ago, and make a habit of spreading  bee bombs where I can, so I have to declare I was was already a bee preserver, and honey lover, and even more so now.

Check the prices, delivery and numerous excellent products HERE