Mel das Terras Altas do Minho
Also known as: Terras Altas do Minho honey, Mel das Terras Altas do Minho DOP
Mel das Terras Altas do Minho is dark heather honey with an EU protected designation of origin (PDO) from the mountains of north-western Portugal.
Mel das Terras Altas do Minho is a Portuguese honey with an EU protected designation of origin (PDO) from the mountain districts of the north-west, at 400 to 1,545 m. It is a nectar honey whose pollen is mostly from Ericaceae: Erica umbellata (locally "queiró"), Erica cinerea, Erica arborea, Erica vagans, Erica ciliaris and Calluna vulgaris.
The colour is markedly dark, the honey is rich in minerals and it crystallises moderately and evenly. This natural tendency to crystallise is regarded as a guarantee of purity, so the honey is sold fluid (pasty) or crystallised. The specification sets moisture below 18 %, reducing sugars above 65 %, ash below 0.6 % and a diastase index above 8.
Only the local bee Apis mellifera iberica is allowed. An apiary needs at least 20 hives, none within 1,000 m of eucalyptus forest, and artificial feeding is banned. Honey is harvested from 15 July to 15 September, preferably by air pressure or a bee brush, and extraction and decanting must happen inside the area at up to 45 °C. Granite soils and humidity feed the heath cover that sustains the bees.
Why this matters to you: the jar should read Mel das Terras Altas do Minho with the PDO logo; crystallised honey is normal here, not a sign of spoilage.
Facts
| Registered | PDO; Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 (1996) |
|---|---|
| Region | Mountains of north-western Portugal, 400–1,545 m |
| Raw material | Nectar; pollen mostly Ericaceae (Erica, Calluna) |
| Legal basis | Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 (1996) |
| Taste | Markedly dark colour, rich in minerals |
| Sweetness | Reducing sugars over 65 %; moisture below 18 % |
| Botanical origin | Erica umbellata, E. cinerea, E. arborea, E. vagans, E. ciliaris, Calluna vulgaris |
| Season | Harvest: 15 July–15 September |
| Crystallization | Medium, regular; sold fluid or crystallised |
How it connects to Honey & beekeeping
Mel das Terras Altas do Minho → 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 dominate the pollen?
Ericaceae: Erica umbellata ("queiró"), Erica cinerea, Erica arborea, Erica vagans, Erica ciliaris and Calluna vulgaris.
Is it true that crystallised honey is inferior?
No. By specification the tendency to crystallise is a guarantee of purity and quality.
What rules apply to the apiary?
At least 20 hives, none within 1,000 m of eucalyptus forest, and only the local bee.
When is the honey harvested?
From 15 July to 15 September, inside the area, at no more than 45 °C.
Are the bees fed?
No. Artificial feeding is banned and only fully capped supers may be added.
Similar
Meli Kissouri · Miód wrzosowy z Borów Dolnośląskich · Mel da Serra da Lousã · 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 das Terras Altas do Minho (EUGI00000013081)
- Commission Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 (OJ L 148, 21.6.1996), registration of Mel names
- DGADR, Produtos Tradicionais Portugueses: Mel das Terras Altas do Minho DOP
- Caderno de especificações Mel das Terras Altas do Minho (DGADR)