Miel de Liébana

Miel de Liébana is a Spanish honey with a protected designation of origin (PDO) from the mountain district of Liébana in Cantabria. The name covers two kinds: honeydew honey from oak and holm oak, and single-flower heather honey. The label must say Miel de Mielada or Monofloral de Brezo.

Heather honey comes from the nectar of Erica and Calluna vulgaris and must contain at least 45 % heather pollen. Honeydew honey also carries blackberry and heather pollen. Pollen of eucalyptus, sunflower, olive, rockrose, thyme, lavender and rosemary together may not exceed 5 %. Sucrose is at most 5 % and moisture up to 18.6 %.

Liébana is a caldera around the Picos de Europa, rising from 300 to 2,600 m, a Mediterranean enclave in an Atlantic region. Pollen tests found 40 pollen types. The first references to Liébana honey are in tithe records from the end of the 16th century. All stages, including packing in clear glass, take place in the district, and bulk sales are banned.

Honeydew honey is almost black, fluid, very slow to crystallise, with a woody, malty aroma and salty notes. Heather honey runs from amber to very dark, is pasty, granulates finely and is slightly bitter with pronounced saltiness.

Why this matters to you: this is a honey for those who like dark, not very sweet flavours, related to Honeydew honey and heather honey.