Pine honey (Mediterranean)

DISTRIBUTION: Mediterranean Basin: Greece, Albania, Turkey, Lebanon, Spain

SPECIES: Aleppo pine – Pinus halepensis / Turkish pine – Pinus brutia / Black pine – Pinus nigra, subs. nigra, var. pallasiana

INTENSITY ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧

COLOUR: Dark brown

TEXTURE: Liquid, viscous

SMELL / AROMA:
Resinous, intense

Several species of pine grow in the Mediterranean Basin, including Aleppo pine, Turkish pine, Austrian (black) pine (var. pallasiana).

Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) is widespread in the eastern Mediterranean Basin: Turkey, northern Greece, Lebanon. It grows on smaller areas in Italy, France and northern Africa, but on rather extensive zones in Spain (along with other pine species).

Turkish pine (Pinus brutia) is widespread in Turkey and the Greek islands in the North-Eastern Aegean.

Pinus pallasiana is a subspecies (variety) of Pinus nigra (Austrian pine) and grows at higher altitudes, with coastal areas populated by other pine species.

Mediterranean pine honey is a honeydew honey (bees harvest the sweet substance produced by aphids), intense, highly flavoured, and remains liquid for years. Like all honeydew honeys, pine honey is highly mineralized.

The most widespread honey in northern Greece, it is produced in large quantities on Mount Athos (Aleppo pine) and the island of Thasos (Turkish pine). It is also widespread and appreciated in western Turkey.