Yenice Ihlamur Balı

Yenice Ihlamur Balı is lime (linden) honey with an EU protected designation of origin (PDO) from the Yenice district of Karabük province in the Western Black Sea region of Türkiye. It is made from the nectar of silver linden (Tilia tomentosa) and Caucasian linden (Tilia rubra subsp. caucasica); it counts as a monofloral honey with low lime pollen representation.

The pollen must contain lime and at least two of seven taxa: elder, traveller's joy, Christ's thorn, heather, bramble, hawthorn and rose; pollen of 86 plant taxa has been identified. The colour is yellow to amber; the honey is fluid, without bitterness, and sets partly and slowly in soft fine grains. The scent of lime blossom is clear when a hive is opened. Water is up to 20 %, glucose plus fructose at least 60 g/100 g, sucrose up to 4 g, HMF up to 18 mg/kg, diastase at least 8 and proline at least 300 mg/kg.

Forest covers 87 % of the district, with 312 plant taxa, 51 of them endemic. Rugged terrain has limited settlement and industry, so lime trees spread widely and give the bees nectar. The climate is a transition between Black Sea and continental, humid and foggy. All production steps take place in the district.

Why this matters to you: this is a lime honey with a clear pollen profile; the logo on the pack and the name Yenice Ihlamur Balı confirm origin.