Guided Honey Tasting Experiences

An unexpected sensory experience designed to bring people together, spark conversation and completely change the way you think about honey.

You may think you know what honey tastes like.

Then you taste several honeys side by side.

The Giddy Bee's Guided Honey Tasting Experience introduces guests to the remarkable differences found in real honey—from color and aroma to texture, flavor and finish.

Depending on the experience, guests may taste honeys from the Carolinas, the Southeast, across North America or other carefully curated regions and floral sources.

Each tasting combines sensory exploration, storytelling, honey education and conversation in an experience that can be intimate and elegant or adapted for a much larger audience.

From a beautifully set table for ten to an employee engagement event for 100+, we'll design the tasting around your group, venue, goals and occasion.

A Unique Corporate Experience That People Will Actually Talk About

Looking for something different for your next employee event, client gathering or corporate retreat?

Honey tasting is approachable enough for nearly anyone to participate in, yet unexpected enough to feel special.

There are no special skills required. Guests simply slow down, taste, compare and discover.

And because people rarely experience several distinctive honeys side by side, the tasting naturally creates conversation:

Which one did you like?

Did you smell that?

How can those both be honey?

The experience works beautifully for:

• Employee engagement events
• Corporate retreats
• Team-building activities
• Client appreciation events
• Executive gatherings
• Employee wellness programming
• Holiday and seasonal celebrations
• Conference breakout sessions
• Leadership gatherings
• Resident and hospitality programming
• Networking events
• Customer appreciation experiences

Whether you want a relaxed social experience or a polished addition to an executive or client event, the tasting can be customized to match the atmosphere you're creating.

What Happens During a Honey Tasting?

Guests are guided through a simple sensory tasting process inspired by professional honey evaluation.

We'll explore honey through:

Color — What do you notice before you ever taste it?

Aroma — Floral? Fruity? Earthy? Herbal? Something completely unexpected?

Texture — Light and delicate, thick and creamy, or somewhere in between?

Flavor — Honey is sweet, but sweetness is only the beginning.

Finish — What flavors linger after the honey is gone?

Along the way, we'll talk about how floral source, geography, weather, season and the environment surrounding the hive can influence what ultimately ends up in the jar.

Guests also learn how to better understand honey labels, what varietal honey means and why two authentic honeys can look and taste dramatically different from one another.

The goal isn't to become a honey expert in an hour.

It's to never look at a jar of honey quite the same way again.

From Intimate & Elegant to Large-Scale & Interactive

No two events need to look exactly alike.

The Signature Seated Honey Tasting

For smaller groups, we can create an intimate, elevated tasting experience with individual tasting place settings, curated honeys, tasting materials, palate cleansers, sparkling water and subtle bee-inspired table details.

This format allows guests to slow down, compare honeys and participate in a more guided sensory conversation.

It's especially well suited for:

• Executive teams
• Client appreciation
• Private celebrations
• Small corporate groups
• Women's groups
• Supper clubs
• Resident events
• Girls' nights
• Couples' gatherings

Corporate & Employee Engagement Tastings

For larger workplace events, we can adapt the experience to keep it engaging while allowing more people to participate.

Depending on group size and event flow, this might include:

• Guided tasting flights
• Table-based tastings
• Interactive comparison activities
• Short-format tasting sessions
• Multiple tasting rounds
• Open-house or reception-style tasting stations
• A featured selection of regional or unusual varietal honeys

We'll work with your event organizer to determine the format that makes the most sense for your space, schedule and audience.

Large-Scale Honey Tastings

Yes—we can bring honey tasting to a larger crowd.

For conferences, festivals, employee events, resident programming and other large gatherings, we can simplify the traditional seated tasting into a format designed specifically for volume.

These events might feature fewer honeys, shorter guided tastings, tasting stations or multiple groups moving through the experience.

Large-group events are individually quoted based on attendance, format, tasting selections, staffing and setup requirements.

Private Honey Tasting Experiences

You don't need a corporate event to book a private tasting.

Gather your favorite people and we'll bring the experience to you.

A private honey tasting makes an unexpected experience for:

• Girls' nights
• Birthdays
• Couples' gatherings
• Neighborhood groups
• Book clubs
• Family gatherings
• Bridal events
• Dinner parties
• Food and wine groups
• "Just because" evenings with friends

Host your tasting in your home, neighborhood clubhouse, private event room, community space or other approved venue.

We'll bring the honey, tasting materials and guidance.

You bring the people.

Your Honey Tasting Can Be Customized

One of our favorite parts of creating these experiences is selecting a tasting that makes sense for the people around the table.

Your tasting might focus on:

Honeys of the Carolinas

Discover how honey reflects the flowers, seasons and landscapes closer to home.

Honeys of the Southeast

Explore distinctive Southern varietals and the environments that create them.

Beyond the Carolinas

Travel through honey without leaving your seat with a curated collection from different regions and floral sources.

Honey Around the World

For select events, we can create a more adventurous tasting featuring curated domestic and international honeys based on availability.

Hot Honeys

For those who like a little heat, this tasting explores the balance between sweetness and spice through a curated selection of hot honeys and chili-infused varieties.

It’s a fun, conversation-starting option for adventurous groups, food lovers and guests who enjoy a little kick.

Culinary Honeys

A tasting designed for cooks, bakers and anyone who loves experimenting in the kitchen.

Explore a collection of honeys chosen for their culinary versatility and discover how different flavor profiles can be used in marinades, baking, glazes, dressings, sauces, beverages and everyday cooking.

This experience is less about simply asking, “Which honey do you like best?” and more about discovering which honey you’ll want in your pantry—and what you’ll do with it once you get home.

Custom Curated Tasting

Have a theme, destination, menu or particular idea in mind?

Let's talk.

We can also adjust the number of honeys, depth of education, length of the presentation and style of servicedepending on the age, interests, size and experience level of your group.

How Long Is a Honey Tasting Experience?

Most Signature Honey Tastings last approximately 60–90 minutes.

For corporate events or larger groups, we can also create:

• 30–45 minute express tastings
• 60-minute guided experiences
• 90-minute signature tastings
• Reception-style or rotating tasting stations
• Custom event formats

We'll help determine the right format based on your audience and event schedule.

Corporate & Private Honey Tasting Pricing

Signature Corporate or Private Honey Tasting

Starting at $59 per guest
$590 minimum private booking

Designed for an elevated seated or small-group experience with curated honeys, guided sensory education, tasting materials and a polished table presentation.

Final pricing depends on guest count, tasting theme, number of honeys, event location and level of customization.

Large-Group & Corporate Events

Starting at $750

Larger employee events, conferences, client gatherings and reception-style tastings are custom designed based on the number of participants and desired format.

For larger groups, we may recommend an express tasting, tasting stations or a modified presentation to create the best experience for your guests.

Contact us for a custom quote.

Community & Nonprofit Honey Tastings

We love bringing honey education into the community.

Discounted programming is available for schools, qualifying nonprofit organizations, civic groups and community organizations when budget and scheduling allow.

Community and nonprofit programs start at $395.

These experiences may use a simplified tasting format based on group size, age and program goals.

Contact us and tell us a little about your organization—we're happy to explore what might work.

Is Honey Tasting Appropriate for Someone Who Doesn't Know Anything About Honey?

Absolutely.

In fact, that's part of the fun.

You don't need an educated palate or any previous tasting experience. The tasting process is intentionally approachable, and there are no "correct" answers.

One person may notice flowers.

Someone else may taste citrus.

Someone across the table may insist it tastes like toasted marshmallow.

That's where the conversation begins.

Who Leads the Honey Tasting?

Honey Tastings are led by Anne Marie Katalenas, founder and beekeeper behind The Giddy Bee.

Anne Marie is a Certified South Carolina Beekeeper and Level 1 Certified Honey Sommelier through the American Honey Tasting Society.

She currently serves as Vice President of the Lancaster County Beekeepers Association and has received recognition including South Carolina Beekeepers Association Volunteer of the Year, Lancaster County Volunteer of the Year and Lancaster County Beekeeper of the Year.

An experienced corporate and community speaker, Anne Marie combines beekeeping, honey sensory education and storytelling to make the experience informative without feeling like a lecture.

Her goal is simple:

Help people slow down long enough to discover just how interesting honey really is.

Where Are Honey Tasting Experiences Available?

The Giddy Bee is based in Lancaster, South Carolina and offers private and corporate honey tasting experiences throughout the greater Charlotte region and surrounding communities.

We can bring the experience to your:

• Workplace or corporate office
• Conference or retreat venue
• Private home
• Community clubhouse
• Private event room
• Hospitality or residential property
• Meeting facility
• Approved event venue

Travel fees may apply depending on location.

Plan Your Honey Tasting Experience

Whether you're planning an employee engagement event, client appreciation experience, corporate retreat, private gathering or community program, we'll help create a tasting that fits your group.

Email Hello@thegiddybee.com with:

• Your preferred date or dates
• Event location
• Approximate number of guests
• Type of event or organization
• The Honey Tasting Experience you're interested in
• Any ideas you already have for the event

Not sure which tasting or format you need?

That's perfectly fine.

Tell us about the people you're bringing together and what you'd like the experience to feel like, and we'll help you build it.

Corporate & Private Tastings — Starting at $590
Large-Group Experiences — Starting at $750
Community & Nonprofit Programs — Starting at $395