Artisan Greek Rare Vanilla Fir Raw Honey - 5kg - Out of Stock

What makes Vanilla Fir special?

• It also has a much lower level of sugars than other honeys, being particularly low in glucose meaning it usually never crystallises.
• Vanilla Fir only comes from the region of Mount Mainalo in the Peleponnese in Greece, no where else in the world.
• It isn't produced every year. 2019 is a good year but other years there is little or none available.
  
• This honey is exceptionally low in moisture - just over 14% (we had our batch analysed).
  
• It is the only Greek honey with Protected Designation of Origin - this is the only place in the world you will find this honey.

This is a honey that I thought we would never find - it is very rare and very highly valued and stock is normally snapped up in advance.  However, this year has been a good year for honey (so there is more available) and Thomas has persuaded his cousin/friend Giotis (never quite sure of the distinction in Greece, Thomas seems to have a lot of cousins!).

Giotis lives close to Mount Mainlo and has agreed to supply some Vanilla Fir via Thomas. So that is how we are able to introduce Vanilla Fir to you from the Black Fir tree that grows on Mount Mainalo in the Peleponnese in Greece. I wouldn't normally sell honey from a beekeeper I haven't met but Thomas has vouched for him and I have had the honey analysed (and that's all good, no heating and it has all the key characteristics of a Vanilla Fir). This honey has been granted Protected Designation of Origin, because of its uniqueness and rarity. It comes from no where else in the world apart from the area around Mount Mainalo. 

Flavour: Thomas' Raw Greek Vanilla Fir honey Vanilla fir is a thick, earthy, creamy honeydew honey which has a flavour with hints of vanilla and caramel. 

Colour: When runny, the colour of this honey is quite light, with shades of pearl or caramel. 

Where it comes from: This honey only comes from the fir forests of Mount Mainalon in the Peloponnese in the region of Arcadia, no where else in the world. This is where the rare Black Fir tree grows.

More on honeydew honey: Fir tree honey is known as a honeydew, because it is from the sap and resin of the tree not from flower nectar. Honeydews are high in oligosaccharides, which are known for their prebiotic qualities- aiding digestion.

About the beekeeper: It was brought to us by Thomas and his cousin, who has the hives for the Vanilla Fir honey. Thomas is a young Greek beekeeper, who is planning to take over his family's hives, which are in secluded forest glades in and around mountains of central Greece. He has great enthusiasm for raw honey and natural hive products.

How Raw Honey is Different from Processed Honey

Raw honey is minimally processed, meaning it’s packed with natural enzymes, pollen, and nutrients that are often lost during processing. Most supermarket honeys are processed to create a uniform appearance, often being drained of pollen, heated, and blended. Raw honey changes in flavour, colour, and texture depending on the season and the flowers that bees feed on, making each batch unique.

Crystallisation in Raw Honey

Raw honey tends to crystallise over time due to its natural glucose content. This is a natural process and does not affect the quality of the honey. For more information on why honey crystallises, visit our blog or check Wikipedia for a more scientific explanation.

About Us

At The Raw Honey Shop, we believe that honey should be RAW, unpasteurised, and 100% natural. Since 2008, we've been introducing our customers to a world of pure, all-natural, unpasteurised honey. Our catalogue includes over 30 different varieties of raw and organic honeys, each with its own unique story and flavour.

Thank you for visiting our shop. We look forward to introducing you to a world of raw, pure, and truly wonderful honey—the way the bees intended it!

Please note we cannot accept returns on this honey due to its size. The tub has travelled all the way from Greece so small dents will often appear.  If your tub or tin arrives slightly damaged and leaking, we are happy to give you a partial refund on the amount of honey you feel has been lost. Unfortunately, we cannot replace whole tins or tubs unless more then 50% of the honey has been lost. We would then request you send us pictures so that we can assess the damage and agree the replacement.