In addition to its fine wines, cured meats and artisanal cheeses, the island of Corsica is also famous for its honey, being the only one produced in France that carries the prestigious Appellation of Controlled Origin designation (AOC label).

Lavender Flowers

Corsican honey varies based on the season, source vegetation and whether it is made from flower nectars or miellat (called honeydew in English), a thick liquid composed of liquid bee excrement and rich in sugars and amino acids.

Honeys made from miellat are darker and more concentrate (with less water and a higher sugar content).

Apiculture in Corsica

Beekeeping in Corsica dates back to antiquity. During the Roman Empire, about 180 BC, Corsica had to pay a tax equivalent to 90 tons of beeswax as a tribute to Rome.

Today, Corsican beekeepers incorporate modern breeding methods with their traditional, ancient practices. These skills combined with a generous abundance and variety of native flowers provide all the necessary elements to support an industry that is one of the world’s sweetest art forms and one the backbones of agriculture. (See “Honey Facts” below).

The chestnut tree, also considered the tree of life in Corsica, has played an important role in Corsica’s economy, providing a basic fuel and food source to humans and farm animals alike. In Corsica chestnuts are used to make cookies, pastries, beer, jams and honey.

Honeys in Corsica tend to be full-bodied, complex (simultaneously sweet and bitter) with hints of herbs, and very aromatic.

The maquis, a wild bush endemic to the island which includes rosemary, sage, thyme, mint and lavender, lends Corsican honey an unmistakable taste and color.

Types of Honey

Six different types of honey are produced throughout the year in Corsica, namely:

Printemps (Spring), Maquis de printemps (Spring Maquis), Miellats du maquis (Maquis Honeydew), Châtaigneraie (Chestnut), Maquis d’été (Summer Maquis), and Maquis d’automne (Autumn Maquis).

I don’t get carried away by these fancy designations. Small independent producers sell their honeys at local markets and I find them all to be very tasty. I’ve even bought honey jars that had no label and I’ve been very pleased with the quality.

Corsican honey is exquisite with goat or ewe cheese or served with hot cereal, toast and tea.

Four Amazing Facts About Honey

Next time you sample some honey remember:

• Honey bees are the only insects that produce food for humans.
• It is estimated that about a third of the food in an average grocery store, as well as a large portion of the produce department, depends on honey bee pollination.
• Honey bees visit approximately two million flowers to make one pound of honey.
• To produce 2 pounds of honey, bees travel a distance equal to 4 times around the earth.

(Source: Blue Ridge Honey Company)

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No doubt, bees and beekeepers play an important role in the ecological health of our planet.

Where to Buy

Corsican Products

Related Post

Corsican Grastronomy

Filed under: Gastronomy