Greek Honey has been the “Nectar of the Gods”, for over 3,000 years.
Greece has an extended historical past of bee-keeping and there are extra beehives per acre in Greece than every other nation in Europe, so it comes as no shock that Greek honey is taken into account one of the best on this planet.
The broad biodiversity of flora mixed with the Aegean summer time solar is what helps produce this distinctive golden nectar.
Honey is the primary conventional sweetener utilized by Greeks since antiquity. In actual fact, honey together with olives and grapes fashioned the beginnings of Greek gastronomy.
Greek honey is without doubt one of the most dietary, pure meals, full of nutritional vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Honey incorporates anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal substances and has additionally been used for hundreds of years as a therapy for sore throats and coughs, minor burns, cuts and different bacterial infections.
Research present that honey is without doubt one of the best meals to digest and is understood for its cancer-fighting properties (wealthy in phenolic compounds) and likewise aids within the prevention of osteoporosis.
The honey from Greece is taken into account to be a number of the best on a worldwide scale as a result of limitless summer time solar, the biodiversity of the Greek countryside plus the wealthy number of Greek flora, which incorporates over 850 species discovered nowhere else on this planet. Scientists and botanists take into account Greece a rustic with the richest flora within the Mediterranean basin, (greater than 7,500 totally different species of herbs, vegetation, wildflowers and timber).
Greek honey are richer in fragrant substances, in comparison with different honey produced in different international locations; they’ve much less humidity, which suggests they’re denser and richer.
Mix all these details collectively and you can begin to know why Greek honey has a prime place on this planet market.
Primary Varieties Of Greek Honey
THYME: Thyme honey is essentially the most revered Greek honey primarily as a result of thyme-fed bees produce much less honey, making it rarer and dearer. Thyme honey is mild in color, with an intense natural aroma, and tends to crystallise after about 6 to 18 months, relying on storage circumstances and temperature. Produced in spring, when thyme flowers, essentially the most well-known varieties are from Crete and Kythera.
PINE: About 65% of all Greek honey is pine, honey. Its mahogany color highlights its wealthy mineral content material, which incorporates potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, iron, and sodium. It doesn’t crystallise simply. Pine honey has the very best proportion of antioxidants of all Greek honey.
BLOSSOM: From wildflowers and orange blossoms, it has a scrumptious aroma that’s extra delicate than different honey. It could actually crystallise extra simply.
HEATHER: Produced in early autumn, after the primary rains, whether it is heat sufficient for heather to blossom. Darkish, reddish color and really thick, nearly strong, it has a spreadable texture. It tends to crystallise in about three months.
CHESTNUT: Very totally different sort, with a really faint, nice bitterness, it is without doubt one of the rarest Greek honey.
FIR: The one PDO Greek honey, from Vytina within the Peloponnese. It’s thought-about one of many rarest and greatest and nearly by no means crystallises.
Areas in Greece The place Honey is Produced:
Honey is produced nearly in all places in Greece, nonetheless, some locations that stand out include-
- Crete and Kythera are famend for his or her thyme honey.
- Vytina, within the Peloponnese highlands round Tripoli, is famend for its fir honey.
- In Halkidiki, about 30% of all Greek honey is produced.
- The Dodecanese is a significant business producer.
- Epirus is dwelling to a number of the most uncommon honey, particularly bittersweet chestnut honey.
