Mel do Parque de Montezinho
Also known as: Montezinho Park honey, Mel do Parque de Montesinho DOP
Mel do Parque de Montezinho is wild-flower honey with an EU protected designation of origin (PDO) from Montezinho Natural Park in north-eastern Portugal.
Mel do Parque de Montezinho is a Portuguese wild-flower honey with an EU protected designation of origin (PDO) from Montezinho Natural Park in Trás-os-Montes. Apis mellifera iberica bees make it from natural vegetation dominated by heather, chestnut and rosemary.
Taste and aroma come from the park's conditions: farming that interferes with the native flora is not allowed. The park lies in the "Terra Fria" of Trás-os-Montes, where temperatures swing from minus 12 °C in winter to 40 °C in summer; two ranges, Serra da Coroa in the west and Serra de Montesinho in the east, feed the abundant vegetation.
Artificial feeding, moving hives, chemical products and bees from other regions are all banned. The area is the municipalities of Bragança and Vinhais in the Bragança district. The tradition is old: local beekeepers did not sell colonies, only swapped them, as the proverb says: "Hives and sheep: neither buy nor sell."
Why this matters to you: the jar should carry the name Mel do Parque de Montezinho, the PDO logo and the certification body's seal; that marking sets park honey apart from ordinary honey.
Facts
| Registered | PDO; Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 (1996) |
|---|---|
| Region | Montezinho Natural Park, Trás-os-Montes, Portugal |
| Raw material | Natural-vegetation nectar: heather, chestnut, rosemary |
| Legal basis | Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 (1996) |
| Taste | Taste and aroma of the park's wild flowers |
| Botanical origin | Erica, Castanea sativa, Rosmarinus officinalis |
How it connects to Honey & beekeeping
Mel do Parque de Montezinho → kind of → Polyfloral honey → kind of → 🍯 Honey
Links
- Part of
- Protected honey names, Polyfloral honey
- Similar and different
- Wildflower honey
Frequently asked questions
Which plants does this honey come from?
Natural park vegetation dominated by heather, chestnut and rosemary.
Why does the park matter for the honey?
Farming that interferes with the native, natural flora is not allowed in the park.
Can the hives be moved?
No. Moving hives, chemical products and feeding are banned by the specification.
Where is the honey produced?
In the municipalities of Bragança and Vinhais, Bragança district.
Is it true that bees may be brought in from other regions?
No. Introducing bees from other regions is not allowed.
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 do Parque de Montezinho (EUGI00000013244)
- Commission Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 (OJ L 148, 21.6.1996), registration of Mel names
- DGADR, Produtos Tradicionais Portugueses: Mel do Parque de Montesinho DOP
- Caderno de especificações Mel do Parque de Montezinho (DGADR)