Raw Vanilla Fir Honey | Rare Greek Honey, Kalavryta

Raw Vanilla Fir Honey: Rare Greek Honeydew Honey from Kalavryta

Raw Vanilla Fir Honey is one of the rarer honeys in our collection. It is an artisan Greek honeydew honey, unheated and unprocessed, gathered by bees in the fir forests around Kalavryta in the Peloponnese. Harvests are small and limited, so each jar is something of a find.

Why this honey is a rarity

• Honeydew, not blossom: the bees gather the sugary honeydew left on fir trees, not flower nectar
• A specific place: harvested from the fir forests of Kalavryta, Greece
• Limited quantities: small harvests from a single family of beekeepers, so supply is limited
• Unprocessed and unheated: 100% raw, as nature made it, with nothing added

Why choose Raw Vanilla Fir Honey

• A natural sweetener: a flavourful alternative to refined sugar
• A source of natural energy: simple, natural sugars from a single-origin honey
• Rich in character: a distinctive, aromatic honey where a little goes a long way
• Traceable and artisan: small-batch honey from a family of beekeepers, from forest to jar
• Enjoy as part of a varied, balanced diet

What is vanilla fir honey?

Unlike blossom honey, fir honey is not made from flower nectar. Bees collect the sugary honeydew left on fir trees by small insects that feed on the sap. This gives fir honeys a deeper, more savoury-sweet character than light floral honeys. Our vanilla fir honey comes from the forests of Kalavryta, is raw and unheated, and is produced in limited quantities.

Taste and texture

• Flavour: mellow and less sweet than many flower honeys, with warm caramel, soft malt and subtle hints of vanilla and sweet spice
• Texture: dense, velvety and pearlescent rather than runny

Details

• Variety: vanilla fir honey (honeydew honey)
• Origin: fir forests of Kalavryta, Greece
• Beekeeper: family apiary, northern Peloponnese, Greece

How to enjoy raw vanilla fir honey

Because it is a rare honey, it is best enjoyed simply. Taste it straight from the spoon, drizzle it over Greek yoghurt with nuts, or serve it on a cheeseboard with walnuts and figs. It also works well stirred into breakfast cereal or porridge, or in dressings and warm drinks.

Meet our beekeeper

Our Artisan Raw Vanilla Fir Honey is produced by our friend Thanasas and his family, who live in the northern Peloponnese, Greece. Thanasas is a third-generation beekeeper who learned the craft from his father and grandfather. Each year, the bees gather honeydew from the fir forests around Kalavryta, and the honey is jarred raw, as it came from the hive.

Good to know

Raw honey naturally tends to crystallise. This is a normal process and does not affect its quality. To return it to a runny texture, stand the jar in a bowl of warm water. Avoid very hot water, which can alter the character of raw honey.

Storage: Store at room temperature, away from sunlight and moisture.

Not suitable for children under 1 year of age.

Frequently asked questions

What is vanilla fir honey? It is a honeydew honey made from the sugary secretions found on fir trees, not from flower nectar. It is a rare variety, produced in small quantities.

Why is it considered rare? It depends on the fir forests of a specific area and is gathered in limited harvests, so it is not available in large volumes.

Is this honey really raw? Yes. It is unheated and unprocessed, with nothing added.

Why has my raw honey crystallised? Crystallisation is a natural process in raw honey and doesn't affect its quality. To return it to a runny texture, stand the jar in a bowl of warm water and avoid very hot water.

How do I use Raw Vanilla Fir Honey? Try it straight from the spoon, over Greek yoghurt and nuts, on a cheeseboard, or stirred into porridge, cereal or warm drinks.

How should I store it? At room temperature, away from sunlight and moisture.

Where is it from? It is produced by a third-generation beekeeper family based in the northern Peloponnese, Greece. The honey is harvested from the fir forests of Kalavryta.

Is it suitable for young children? Honey is not suitable for children under 1 year of age.