Mel da Serra da Lousã
Also known as: Serra da Lousã honey, Mel da Serra da Lousã DOP
Mel da Serra da Lousã is honey with an EU protected designation of origin (PDO) from the Serra da Lousã mountains in central Portugal, made from heather and chestnut nectar.
Mel da Serra da Lousã is a Portuguese honey with an EU protected designation of origin (PDO) from the Serra da Lousã mountains in central Portugal. Bees make it from the nectar of wild flowers, above all heather and sweet chestnut.
The colour runs from amber to dark amber, almost black, depending on how much chestnut (Castanea sativa) is present. Heather nectar gives a strong aroma, a pronounced flavour and some astringency. The honey is thick because its moisture stays below 20 %, and it crystallises at low temperatures into a regular texture. Reducing sugars exceed 65 %, the diastase index is above 10 and HMF stays below 35 mg/kg.
The honey comes from movable-frame hives between 1 May and the end of August, harvested as soon as heather and chestnut stop flowering, only from fully capped frames without brood. It is centrifuged and matured for at least 30 days. The area covers the municipalities of Lousã, Góis, Castanheira de Pera, Miranda do Corvo and Figueiró dos Vinhos.
Why this matters to you: origin is proved by pollen analysis, and the jar (30 g, 250 g, 500 g or 1 kg) must be shrink-wrapped and carry the producer group's seal.
Facts
| Registered | PDO; Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 (1996) |
|---|---|
| Region | Serra da Lousã, central Portugal |
| Raw material | Wild-flower nectar, mainly heather and chestnut |
| Legal basis | Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 (1996) |
| Taste | Strong heather aroma, pronounced flavour, some astringency |
| Sweetness | Reducing sugars over 65 %; moisture below 20 % |
| Botanical origin | Erica, Calluna vulgaris, Castanea sativa |
| Colour | Amber to dark amber, almost black |
How it connects to Honey & beekeeping
Mel da Serra da Lousã → kind of → Monofloral honey → kind of → 🍯 Honey
Links
- Part of
- Protected honey names, Monofloral honey
- Similar and different
- Heather honey
Frequently asked questions
Which plants does this honey come from?
Wild-flower nectar, mainly heather; the share of chestnut also shapes the colour.
What colour and texture does it have?
Amber to dark amber, almost black; thick because moisture is below 20 %.
When is it harvested?
Between 1 May and the end of August, right after heather and chestnut bloom, from capped frames.
How is it packed?
In glass jars of 30 g, 250 g, 500 g or 1 kg, shrink-wrapped to show it is sealed.
Is it true that crystallised honey has gone off?
No. By specification this honey crystallises at low temperatures into a regular texture.
Similar
Meli Kissouri · Miód wrzosowy z Borów Dolnośląskich · Mel das Terras Altas do Minho · Mel de Barroso · 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 — EU register of geographical indications: Mel da Serra da Lousã (EUGI00000013232)
- Commission Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 (OJ L 148, 21.6.1996), registration of Mel names
- Single document amendment 'Mel da Serra da Lousã' (AM01), OJ C/2025/5396, 3.10.2025 (EUR-Lex)