Mel da Serra de Monchique
Also known as: Monchique honey, Mel da Serra de Monchique DOP
Mel da Serra de Monchique is polyfloral nectar honey with an EU protected designation of origin (PDO) from the Monchique mountains in the Algarve, Portugal.
Mel da Serra de Monchique is a Portuguese polyfloral nectar honey with an EU protected designation of origin (PDO) from the Monchique mountains in the Algarve. It is made by Apis mellifera (iberica) bees; the colour is dark yellow and the honey is rich in minerals.
The flavour is mild, largely thanks to citrus and Prunus blossom. The slopes carry large stands of strawberry tree (medronho), which gives the honey its typical bitter note. Combs are harvested only after flowering, once the honey is capped, with a smoker fuelled by eucalyptus berries, herbs or dry leaves. Artificial feeding is forbidden and the honey is cleaned by decanting.
The harvest runs from late May to mid-July; the honey rests until September or October, is then centrifuged and packed in glass jars. It may be sold as extracted honey or as fully capped comb. Extraction and packing must take place inside the area (Monchique, Aljezur, Silves, Portimão and neighbouring parishes). Written references to Monchique honey go back to about 1600.
Why this matters to you: the jar should read Mel da Serra de Monchique with the PDO logo; that separates this Algarve mountain honey from ordinary honey.
Facts
| Registered | PDO; Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 (1996) |
|---|---|
| Region | Serra de Monchique, Algarve, Portugal |
| Raw material | Polyfloral nectar incl. citrus, Prunus and strawberry tree |
| Legal basis | Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 (1996) |
| Taste | Mild flavour with a bitter strawberry-tree note |
| Botanical origin | Citrus, Prunus, Arbutus unedo |
| Colour | Dark yellow |
| Season | Harvest: late May–mid July |
How it connects to Honey & beekeeping
Mel da Serra de Monchique → kind of → Polyfloral honey → kind of → 🍯 Honey
Links
- Part of
- Protected honey names, Polyfloral honey
Frequently asked questions
What kind of honey is it by plant source?
Polyfloral nectar honey, dark yellow and rich in minerals.
Where does the bitter note come from?
The area has many strawberry trees (medronho), which give a typical bitter touch.
When is it harvested?
From late May to mid-July, only after flowering and once the honey is capped.
Where is it extracted and packed?
Only inside the defined area around Monchique, Aljezur, Silves and neighbouring parishes.
Is it true that the bees are fed sugar?
No. Artificial feeding of the hives is forbidden by the specification.
Similar
Miel de Ibiza · Miel de La Alcarria · Slavonski med · Miele della Lunigiana · Miele delle Dolomiti Bellunesi · Miód drahimski
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 de Monchique (EUGI00000013086)
- Commission Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 (OJ L 148, 21.6.1996), registration of Mel names
- DGADR, Produtos Tradicionais Portugueses: Mel da Serra de Monchique DOP
- Caderno de especificações Mel da Serra de Monchique (DGADR)