DISTRIBUTION: Mediterranean Basin: Greece
SPECIES: Jerusalem sage – Phlomis fruticosa
INTENSITY ✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧
COLOUR: Dark orange
TEXTURE: Cristallyzed
SMELL / AROMA: Floral, medium fragrant
Phlomis fruticosa is one of eastern Mediterranean sage species, also called Jerusalem sage. It ranges from Italy and Albania, to Turkey and Cyprus, growing at altitudes of up to 1000 m.
In Greece, it is found over larger areas in the Aetolia-Akarnania, on the shores of the Ionian Sea, where monofloral ‘asfaka’ honey, as it is called in Greek, is produced.
Jerusalem sage honey crystallizes coarsely, relatively quickly. It is a less intense and sweeter than other types of sage honeys, with a floral aroma and a pleasant taste, which may differ slightly from year to year, depending on the flora in its proximity. It is a much rarer type than other Mediterranean honeys because the Phlomis fruticosa flower has a narrow, deep calyx, which is difficult for bees to penetrate.
Closely related species: Phlomis Cretica (Crete) and Phlomis Russeliana (Turkey, Syria).
In Greece, it is found over larger areas in the Aetolia-Akarnania, on the shores of the Ionian Sea, where monofloral ‘asfaka’ honey, as it is called in Greek, is produced.
Jerusalem sage honey crystallizes coarsely, relatively quickly. It is a less intense and sweeter than other types of sage honeys, with a floral aroma and a pleasant taste, which may differ slightly from year to year, depending on the flora in its proximity. It is a much rarer type than other Mediterranean honeys because the Phlomis fruticosa flower has a narrow, deep calyx, which is difficult for bees to penetrate.
Closely related species: Phlomis Cretica (Crete) and Phlomis Russeliana (Turkey, Syria).
