Thistle Honey

DISTRIBUTION: Eastern, Central and Western Europe: Romania, Bulgaria, France // Mediterranean Basin: Spain, Italy, France

SPECIES: Milk thistle – Silybum marianum (syn. Carduus marianus)

INTENSITY ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧

COLOUR: Red-yellow

TEXTURE: Liquid, crystallizes slowly

SMELL / AROMA: Floral, bitter taste

Thistles are considered invasive plants, widespread especially on semi-arid, sunny soils. In Romania it grows abundantly in Bărăgan, where is produced a honey with a high concentration of thistle nectar.

Thistle honey is one of the few types of honey with a bitter taste. Depending on the concentration of milk thistle, the bitterness can be mild to intense. This does not mean that the honey is spoiled. It is naturally bitter (just like sweet chestnut honey). Because of its bitterness, some consumers avoid it.