Miel de Corse - Mele di Corsica
Also known as: Corsican honey, Miel de Corse PDO
Miel de Corse - Mele di Corsica is honey with an EU protected designation of origin (PDO) from the island of Corsica: six seasonal types from the maquis and chestnut groves.
Miel de Corse - Mele di Corsica is honey with an EU protected designation of origin (PDO) from the whole island of Corsica, France. It is made by bees of the island's own ecotype from the nectar and honeydew of maquis plants and chestnut groves. The honey comes in six seasonal types.
The types follow the beekeeping year: spring, spring maquis from tree heather, maquis honeydew, chestnut grove, summer maquis and autumn maquis from strawberry tree. Water is below 18 % (below 19 % for chestnut grove and late autumn honey) and HMF at most 10 mg/kg at packing. Honey from rapeseed, sunflower, sulla, buckwheat and sainfoin is excluded, and bees may not be fed from 15 days before the flow until harvest.
Spring honey is very light and fruity, chestnut grove honey dark, tannic and clearly bitter, autumn honey smells of coffee grounds and keeps a bitter finish. The maquis grows from the coast to about 1,200 m, so flowers follow one another: tree heather in spring, chestnut in early summer, strawberry tree in autumn.
Why this matters to you: the seasonal type on the label hints at the taste, from mild spring to bitter chestnut.
Facts
| Registered | PDO; Regulation (EC) No 1187/2000 |
|---|---|
| Region | Island of Corsica, France |
| Raw material | Maquis and chestnut nectar and honeydew; bees of the local ecotype |
| Legal basis | Regulation (EC) No 1187/2000; amended 2013 |
| Taste | From mild spring to bitter chestnut and autumn honey |
| Botanical origin | Erica arborea, Castanea sativa, Arbutus unedo |
| Moisture | <18 %; chestnut grove <19 % |
| Season | Erica arborea: spring; Castanea: early summer; Arbutus unedo: autumn–winter |
How it connects to Honey & beekeeping
Miel de Corse - Mele di Corsica → kind of → Polyfloral honey → kind of → 🍯 Honey
Links
- Part of
- Protected honey names, Polyfloral honey
- Similar and different
- Strawberry tree honey, Spring honey
- Which plants it comes from
- Strawberry tree
Frequently asked questions
Which kinds of honey carry the name Miel de Corse?
Six seasonal types: spring, spring maquis, maquis honeydew, chestnut grove, summer maquis and autumn maquis.
Which honeys are excluded?
Honeys from rapeseed, sunflower, sulla, buckwheat and sainfoin; citrus plantations are an exception.
Which bees make this honey?
The Corsican ecotype of Apis mellifera mellifera; feeding is banned from 15 days before the flow until harvest.
What are the water and HMF limits?
Water below 18 % (below 19 % for chestnut grove and late autumn); HMF up to 10 mg/kg, up to 12 for tree heather spring maquis.
Is it true that any Corsican honey may be sold as Miel de Corse?
No. It must meet pollen, colour, smell and taste requirements and come from plants growing wild on the island.
Similar
Miel des Landes · Miel de Asturias · Miel de Ibiza · Miel de La Alcarria · Slavonski med · Miele della Lunigiana
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: Miel de Corse - Mele di Corsica (EUGI00000013282)
- Commission Regulation (EC) No 1187/2000 (OJ L 133, 6.6.2000), registration of Miel de Corse
- Single document Miel de Corse - Mele di Corsica, amendment application OJ C 134, 14.5.2013 (EUR-Lex)