Along the roads of the northern Costa Blanca, olive and almond groves alternate, while bees buzz among wild rosemary, thyme and orange blossom. Honey has been produced in this Mediterranean landscape for centuries – a craft that has remained very much alive. Bees play an indispensable role in pollinating crops and provide a regional product that captures the flavours of nature: honey full of Mediterranean character.
How honey is made – and why Polop is a special place
In spring, the entire Costa Blanca is in bloom: orange blossom, rosemary, lavender and, later in the season, thyme and carob. The bees collect the nectar and bring it to their hives, where they slowly turn it into honey.
A special story unfolds in the Polop valley, where the famous nispero (medlar) trees are grown under nets that protect them. During the flowering season, the growers release bees to selectively collect honey. This produces a very pure medlar honey with a soft, almost tropical flavour that is only available in limited quantities.
The bees themselves
In this region, the Apis mellifera iberiensis, a native subspecies of the honey bee, is mainly used. This bee is known for its adaptability to the Mediterranean climate and its important role in pollinating crops such as citrus, almonds and medlars. Without these little hard workers, the biodiversity and harvest in the region would be very different.
Bees are not only essential for agriculture, but also for the entire ecosystem. They pollinate wild plants, which in turn provide food and shelter for numerous animals. Bees are therefore a crucial link in the food chain and contribute to maintaining a healthy environment.
You can also do something to help bees yourself: create a bee-friendly garden with native flowers, herbs and shrubs such as lavender, thyme and rosemary. Place a shallow water source where bees can drink safely, for example a plate with pebbles in it so they don't drown.
TIP: If you see a bee colony somewhere, call a beekeeper to collect them instead of poisoning them. This way, you can help preserve these indispensable workers of nature.
From hive to jar
In summer, beekeepers harvest the honeycombs. After unsealing, the combs are centrifuged and the raw honey is filtered and bottled immediately. No heating is involved, so that the flavour and healthy enzymes are preserved. This honey is known as “miel cruda”.
Types of honey and their flavours
The environment provides a wide range of flavours, depending on the plants the bees visit:
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- Rosemary honey (“miel de romero”) – light and mild in flavour, popular with children and ideal for use in tea or yoghurt. A classic in this area, mainly harvested in spring when the fields are full of flowering rosemary.
- Thyme honey (“miel de tomillo”) – aromatic and spicy, with a full flavour that goes well with cheese. This honey has a slight medicinal scent and is often used for sore throats.
- Orange blossom honey (“miel de azahar”) – fruity and fresh, with a subtle citrus scent, delicious on bread and in desserts. Harvested around the time the orange trees bloom in April.
- Almond blossom honey (“miel de flor de almendro”) – delicate and slightly sweet, found at the end of winter and beginning of spring, when the valleys turn white and pink with blossom.
- Carob honey (“miel de algarrobo”) – darker and more powerful, slightly less well known but very distinctive.
- Medlar honey (“miel de níspero”) – exclusive and limited availability, soft and slightly tropical in flavour.
Some beekeepers also make multifloral honey, which combines the flavours of different flowers, depending on what nature has to offer that season.
Health benefits of honey
Honey is often referred to as “liquid energy”. It contains natural sugars, antioxidants and small amounts of minerals. Local honey is also associated with relief from hay fever and sore throats. Important to remember: pure honey is a natural product and is best used cold to preserve all its nutrients.
Where can you buy local honey?
Visitors to the villages of the northern Costa Blanca will often see small shops or stalls selling honey directly from the beekeeper. There are also specialised honey shops where you can taste different varieties. A few well-known places to find local honey are:
Jalón – in the bodegas, a special honey shop and at the Saturday market
Gata de Gorgos – in the shops selling local products
Llosa de Camacho – special honey shop, loved for its pure mountain flower honey
Jesus Pobre – at the atmospheric Sunday rastro with its gastronomic market
Apiturismo – a day with the bees
More and more beekeepers are opening their doors to visitors. During an apiturismo visit, you can see how a bee colony lives, how honey is extracted and, of course, you can taste it. In the vicinity of the Costa Blanca North, you will find, for example:
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- El Sarrelet (El Rafól d'Almúnia) – guided tour and tasting with mountain views
- Miel Montgó (Jávea) – includes a guided walk, shadowing a beekeeper and a gourmet menu
- L'Abella Miel (Jalón - Sierra de Bernia) – visit to the beehives, explanation and tasting
- Local initiatives in the Vall de Pop where small beekeepers give workshops on beeswax and honey.
It is a special experience to accompany a beekeeper and see how important bees are for the landscape and for products such as honey, almonds and nispero fruit.
How can you tell if honey is real and fresh?
Pure honey crystallises naturally over time; this is actually a sign of quality. Does it become hard? Place the jar in a lukewarm water bath (do not boil!) and it will become liquid again. Crystallisation has no effect on the taste or quality.
Creamy honey is produced by stirring the honey slowly and carefully after extraction, so that the crystals remain very fine. The result is a smooth texture that does not drip.
Want to know if honey is real? Make sure there are no syrups or sugars listed on the label and buy directly from the beekeeper or a reliable shop. Real honey has an intense aroma and a deep, layered flavour that lingers in the mouth much longer than an industrial mixture.
More than just a jar of sweetness
Honey from this region is more than just a spread for bread: it reflects nature, the seasons and the tradition of small beekeepers who have often been working in the same valleys for generations. Rich in natural sugars, antioxidants and minerals, honey has been valued for centuries as a source of energy and as a home remedy for colds and sore throats. Taking a jar of honey home with you is not only a tasty souvenir, but also a piece of healthy Mediterranean nature on your kitchen table.
