There are companies who try to make everything natural and green—a valiant effort—but they often spread themselves too thin. Then there are companies who specialize in a few items and do those items very well.
Mohawk Valley Trading Company is one such company. With a warehouse and apiaries located in upstate New York, they produce honey, beeswax, maple syrup and soap— unprocessed and natural and of the highest quality.
I had the pleasure of sampling some of their products, which are only available online.
Beeswax and Honey
I have their beeswax candle lit right now as I work on my computer. (Apparently, when burned, beeswax candles emit negative ions, which are believed to clean the air and reduce symptoms of depression and asthma. Not that I suffer from either, but I figured it might offset the electromagnetic radiation from the computer.)
Beeswax candles may seem a little pricier, but honeybees must consume 6-8 pounds of honey just to make one pound of beeswax. Plus the candles burn longer and cleaner (soot free!), so the investment is worth it. Mohawk Valley Trading Company’s candles are made from 100% beeswax with 100% cotton wicks. The candle is dripless with a subtle, natural smell (that means no nasty headaches!).
Also from their beehives, Mohawk Valley offers eight types of raw honey from summer wildflower to apple blossom. While much of their honey comes from hives in the Mohawk Valley of New York, during the year they truck their bees to other states for seasonal weather and flavors (for example, their blueberry blossom honey comes from bees who spend the late spring in Maine pollinating wild blueberries.)
Their raw honey is so good, it’s used by world-class chefs like Tom Colicchio. “… I love it because I think it tastes exactly as honey should and has a wonderful, spreadable consistency and a slightly crunchy, substantial texture.”
Raw honey even has anti-bacterial and anti-viral health benefits. My family enjoys it on toast and in tea, and this winter I have been using it to protect and moisten my dry lips.
Maple Syrup
Mohawk Valley Trading Company’s grade A pure maple syrup, which is light and yummy, is made from sugar maple sap that averages 2% sugar content (compared to other maple trees with lower content; they require twice as much sap to produce the same amount of sweet syrup). My daughter and I are maple syrup fans, and when we tried this on our waffles, Sofie noted: “It just tastes healthier!” In a good way.
Handmade Soap
While I have yet to try the handmade soap, I can’t stop sniffing its lavender scent through the wrapper. Their soaps are made from high quality goat’s milk, shea butter and plant-based essential oils.
Overall, I am pleased with and would recommend each of their quality products. Again, they’re only available online here.
