Kraški med
Also known as: Karst honey, Kras honey
Kraški med (Karst honey) is honey with an EU protected designation of origin (PDO) from the Karst plateau in Slovenia: forest honeydew, blossom, acacia, lime, chestnut, cherry and savory honey.
Kraški med is a Slovenian honey with a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), produced in the broader Karst (Kras) area and registered in the EU in 2013. It comes in eight varieties: forest (honeydew), blossom, acacia, lime, chestnut, St Lucie cherry (Prunus mahaleb), wild cherry and winter savory.
The specification links the honey to the Karst limestone plateau, where the mild Mediterranean climate meets continental air and the Bora wind blows. Almost half of Slovenian flora grows there, and the dry climate gives a dry, mature honey rich in minerals with a full aroma. Local beekeepers formed an association in 1910.
Rules: hives stay in the area during the nectar flow, and beekeepers keep daily foraging records. Crystallised honey may be liquefied at no more than 40 °C, never in a microwave. The Sežana Beekeeping Association (Čebelarsko društvo Sežana) keeps the register of producers and numbered labels, and each jar is sealed with a numbered label.
Common parameters: water up to 18 %, HMF up to 15 mg/kg at filling, fructose and glucose together at least 45 g per 100 g. Acacia honey stays liquid; lime honey is light yellow with a green sheen and crystallises quickly into coarse crystals; chestnut honey is dark, bitter, with caramel and smoke notes.
Why this matters to you: the numbered seal and the producer register let you trace a jar to a beekeeper in the Karst.
Facts
| Registered | PDO, 2013 (Implementing Regulation (EU) No 751/2013); eAmbrosia PDO-SI-0532 |
|---|---|
| Region | Broader Karst (Kras) area, Slovenia |
| Raw material | Eight varieties: forest, blossom, acacia, lime, chestnut, St Lucie cherry, wild cherry, winter savory |
| Legal basis | Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 751/2013 |
| Sweetness | Fructose + glucose ≥45 g/100 g; water ≤18 %; HMF ≤15 mg/kg |
| Colour | Almost colourless (acacia) – dark brown (chestnut) |
| Crystallization | Acacia stays liquid, chestnut liquid long; lime quick, coarse crystals; winter savory quick, fine |
How it connects to Honey & beekeeping
Kraški med → kind of → Monofloral honey → kind of → 🍯 Honey
Links
- Part of
- Protected honey names, Monofloral honey
- Similar and different
- Acacia honey
- In other topics
- 🗺️ Slovenian wine
- Which plants it comes from
- Winter savory
Frequently asked questions
What is Kraški med?
A Slovenian honey with a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO, 2013) from the broader Karst (Kras) area.
Which varieties of Kraški med exist?
Eight: forest (honeydew), blossom, acacia, lime, chestnut, St Lucie cherry, wild cherry and winter savory.
What quality limits apply to Kraški med?
Water up to 18 %, HMF up to 15 mg/kg at filling, fructose and glucose together at least 45 g per 100 g.
Is it true that crystallised Kraški med can be liquefied in a microwave?
No. It may be liquefied by heating to at most 40 °C at the contact point; microwave liquefying is not permitted.
Who controls the production of Kraški med?
The Sežana Beekeeping Association keeps the register of producers and numbered labels, licensed inspectors check beekeepers, and each jar is sealed with a numbered label.
Similar
Zagorski bagremov med · Miele Varesino · Ağrı Geven Balı · Elazığ Geven Balı · Meli Kissouri · Banski kestenov med
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: Kraški med (EUGI00000013982)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 751/2013 (OJ L 210, 06.08.2013), Kraški med
- Single document Kraški med, OJ C 290, 26.09.2012 (EUR-Lex)
- Čebelarstvo Gombač: Kraški med z zaščiteno označbo porekla