Description
The Miel de Granada PDO is a honey produced either from the nectar of flowers or from substances secreted by live parts of trees. This honey is extracted from nectar from plants belonging to the following families: Cistaceae, Lamiaceae, Fagaceae, Rosaceae, Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Myrtaceae, Salicaceae, Campanulaceae, Resedaceae, Plantaginaceae, Apiaceae, Caesalpinaceae and Lauraceae. The types of honey produced are the following: chestnut from Castanea sativa; rosemary from Rosmarinus officinalis; thyme from Thymus sp.; avocado from Persea sp.; orange flowers from Citrus sp.; lavender from Lavandula stoechas; mountain, from Sierra Nevada "Miel de la Sierra" and polyflowers.
Production Area
The production area of Miel de Granada PDO is located in Granada province, in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia.
Production Method
The extraction of honey starts from the full maturation. The honey is extracted through centrifugation, and then stored in food friendly bins of plastic or metal sheet covered with special food-friendly paint. Later it is filtered and decanted to eliminate air bubbles and leave the product rest. This process can last from a few days to a month. Finally, it is stored and conditioned.
Appearance and Flavour
The colour of Miel de Granada PDO varies from light yellow to amber and, obviously, it depends on the botanical origin. Taste and aroma also vary depending on the type of nectar, more or less strong and penetrating.
History
In 1220, an organization of beekeepers was established to protect the hives and the production of honey and beeswax. From 1482 to 1492, when Granada Kingdom was conquered by the Christian troops, a lot was written about the abundance and excellence of honey in this area. In 1564, the municipalities started to tax the production of honey, as they knew the fame of this product. In 1752, the professional books mentioned the criador de colmena, meaning the beekeeper and, in addition, from 1700 up to today, a lot of authors have underlined the production and the fame of all types of Granada honey.
Gastronomy
The Miel de Granada PDO must be stored in a dry and fresh room, protected from light. It can be eaten alone or used as an ingredient for sweet and salty dishes. The Miel de Granada PDO is also used to prepare sweet pancakes. Generally, the product is combined with sweet sparkling wines. It is also used as an ingredient to prepare sweets, biscuits, cakes and also to season and spice basic meat dishes.
Marketing
The product is sold as Miel de Granada PDO and classified in different types: chestnut, rosemary, thyme, avocado, orange flower, lavender, mountain and polyflowers honey. Generally, cartons contain 500-1000 gr of product.
Distinctive Features
Traditionally, the beekeepers move they hives from the coast to the mountain to search for flowers during all the year. These movements permit them to obtain singular honeys in Granada.
