Mel do Ribatejo Norte
Also known as: Ribatejo Norte honey, Mel do Ribatejo Norte DOP
Mel do Ribatejo Norte is honey with an EU protected designation of origin (PDO) from northern Ribatejo in Portugal in four varieties: Serra d'Aire, Albufeira de Castelo de Bode, Bairro and Alto Nabão.
Mel do Ribatejo Norte is a Portuguese honey with an EU protected designation of origin (PDO) from northern Ribatejo. The registered name lists the sub-areas Serra d'Aire, Albufeira de Castelo de Bode, Bairro and Alto Nabão. Apis mellifera iberica bees make it from the nectar of wild flowers and Mediterranean flora.
Four varieties are told apart by pollen. Serra d'Aire: rosemary, lavender and mint; Albufeira de Castelo de Bode: heather, myrtle and chestnut; Bairro: thistle, bramble (Rubus), viper's bugloss (Echium) and clover; Alto Nabão: mainly eucalyptus. The aroma runs from strongly perfumed to the delicate scent of wild flowers, and the colour is mostly pale yellow.
Artificial feeding is banned. The honey is extracted from July to September by pressing or the traditional method; extraction and filtering take place only inside the area, never above 45 °C. The area covers the municipalities of Alcanena, Ourém, Ferreira do Zêzere, Tomar, Vila Nova da Barquinha and Torres Novas. Beekeeping is documented here since at least the 12th century: in 1178 the Templar master at Tomar granted the Carvalhal de Cêras lands to locals in return for a quarter of their produce, honey and wax included.
Why this matters to you: the jar should carry the name Mel do Ribatejo Norte, the PDO logo and the numbered certification seal that ties the honey to the area.
Facts
| Registered | PDO; Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 (1996) |
|---|---|
| Region | Northern Ribatejo (Santarém district), Portugal |
| Raw material | Wild-flower and Mediterranean nectar; four varieties by pollen |
| Legal basis | Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 (1996) |
| Taste | Strong perfume to delicate wild-flower scent; pale yellow |
| Botanical origin | Rosmarinus officinalis, Lavandula, Mentha, Erica, Myrtus communis, Castanea sativa, Rubus, Echium, Trifolium, Eucalyptus |
| Season | Extraction: July–September |
How it connects to Honey & beekeeping
Mel do Ribatejo Norte → kind of → Polyfloral honey → kind of → 🍯 Honey
Links
- Part of
- Protected honey names, Polyfloral honey
- Similar and different
- Thistle honey
Frequently asked questions
Which four varieties exist?
Serra d'Aire, Albufeira de Castelo de Bode, Bairro and Alto Nabão, by dominant pollen.
What defines the Serra d'Aire variety?
Pollen of rosemary, lavender and mint.
How is the honey extracted?
From July to September, inside the area, by pressing or the traditional way, up to 45 °C.
How old is the beekeeping tradition?
Documented since 1178, when Templars at Tomar took a quarter of honey and wax produce as payment for land.
Is it true that it is honey from one sub-area only?
No. The name covers four sub-areas and varieties.
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 Ribatejo Norte (EUGI00000013077)
- Commission Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 (OJ L 148, 21.6.1996), registration of Mel names
- DGADR, Produtos Tradicionais Portugueses: Mel do Ribatejo Norte DOP
- Caderno de especificações Mel do Ribatejo Norte (DGADR)