Traditional lefkadian honey

The father of the physician, Hippocrates (462-352 BC), recommended honey to all people, but especially to the sick. Honey is sacrificed to all gods: an amphora. This wrote Plato of Knossos as early as the 14th century BC.

On the island of Lefkas, beekeepers used, among others, hives which could be characterized as “hybrids”. The primary hive was made out of local stones bonded together with lime and sand. This resulted in a space with an opening only at the front, which was closed by a movable lid. However, this hive had a limited capacity, and when, as spring progressed, the bee population increased, a horizontal extension was adapted to the opening. This extension was made out of boards or even out of goat hides. Only the combs that were attached to the extension were harvested, and the bees wintered in the primary hive, which, as witnessed, was made out of stone.  (Georgios Mavrofridis, Archaeologis, Beekeeping in the mediterranean from antiquity to the present, 2014)

Lefkada has a rich tradition of honey production dating back to ancient times. The great variety of trees and flowers and the special soil make Lefkada an ideal place, both for the bees and the beekeeper. The island is overgrown with pine trees, wild thyme and sage, among other things, which means that the honey is very aromatic. Lefkada honey is probably one of the best honeys you will ever taste. Lefkada honey is mainly produced in the south-western villages of Lefkada, the most famous among them being Dragano and Athani.

Of course, the Classicon Market in Vasiliki, well known for its comprehensive advice, offers a wide range of Lefkadian and Greek honey.

The distribution of honey by the beekeepers of these villages goes directly to the consumer. Every summer, the producers set up benches and kiosks along the road to Porto Katsiki and offer their natural beekeeping products (thyme honey, pine honey, flower honey, royal jelly, propolis, oatmeal, Rakomelo, etc.).

The nuns from the monastery of Agios Nikolaos Niras also sell their own delicious honey (thyme, pine and bitter honey).