Banski kestenov med
Also known as: Banovina chestnut honey
Croatian chestnut honey with a protected designation of origin (PDO) from the Banovina region in Sisak-Moslavina County: light amber to amber, bitter and slow to crystallise.
Banski kestenov med is a Croatian chestnut honey with a protected designation of origin (PDO). It is made by Carniolan honey bees (Apis mellifera carnica) from the nectar of sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) in the Banovina region, on the edge of the Pannonian Basin.
The specification requires chestnut pollen to be at least 85 % of the pollen from nectar plants, so this is a monofloral honey. The colour runs from light amber to amber, the honey is clear and crystallises slowly. The odour recalls chestnut flowers, wet cardboard and crushed walnut leaves; the taste is lightly sweet and tart with moderate to pronounced bitterness. Water is at most 18 %, electrical conductivity at least 0.80 mS/cm and HMF at most 15 mg/kg.
Chestnuts in Banovina flower from about 5 June to 27 July, depending on the site. Feeding is banned while bees forage on chestnut and must end 14 days before it blooms. Foraging, extraction and packing all take place inside the region.
Why this matters to you: this chestnut honey is lighter than the dark honeydew types, yet distinctly bitter. On the jar look for the logo and the numbered stamp.
Facts
| Registered | PDO; Impl. Reg. (EU) 2026/2290 |
|---|---|
| Region | Banovina, Sisak-Moslavina County (Croatia) |
| Raw material | Sweet chestnut nectar, Castanea sativa; pollen ≥85 % |
| Legal basis | Single document OJ C/2026/3202; Impl. Reg. (EU) 2026/2290 |
| Taste | Light amber; chestnut flower, wet cardboard; bitter |
| Sweetness | Water ≤18 %; HMF ≤15 mg/kg; conductivity ≥0.80 mS/cm |
| Season | Flowering: 5 June–27 July |
| Crystallization | Slow |
How it connects to Honey & beekeeping
Banski kestenov med → kind of → Monofloral honey → kind of → 🍯 Honey
Links
- Part of
- Protected honey names, Monofloral honey
- Similar and different
- Chestnut honey
Frequently asked questions
Is it a PDO or a PGI?
It is a PDO (protected designation of origin), entered in the EU register in 2025.
Where is Banski kestenov med produced?
In the Banovina region: the towns of Petrinja, Glina and Hrvatska Kostajnica and the municipalities of Sunja, Majur, Donji Kukuruzari, Hrvatska Dubica, Dvor, Topusko and Gvozd.
What colour is this chestnut honey?
Light amber to amber; the honey is clear and crystallises slowly.
How much chestnut pollen is required?
At least 85 % of the pollen from nectar plants.
Is it true that chestnut honey is always dark?
No. This one is light amber to amber; the specification points to honeydew as the cause of darker colour in other regions.
Similar
Düzce Kestane Balı · Salıpazarı Kestane Balı · Sinop Kestane Balı · Yalova Kestane Balı · Ağrı Geven Balı · Elazığ Geven Balı
ℹ️ Honey is mostly sugars: about 82 g per 100 g. Do not give honey to babies under 1 year old because of the risk of infant botulism.
Sources
- eAmbrosia: Banski kestenov med (PDO)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2290 (registration of Banski kestenov med)
- Single document Banski kestenov med, OJ C/2026/3202, 12.6.2026