Miele della Lunigiana PDO

There are numerous historical references to the origin of beekeeping in Lunigiana, its close ties to the territory, and how the centuries-old tradition of using honey in the local gastronomy, the use of products derived from beekeeping, such as medicines, and the local tradition of candle–making came to be of considerable importance. The Lunigiana o offers an ideal environment for beekeeping due to its largely natural state, low population density and extremely limited industrial development. Lunigiana Honey PDO is limited to only two types of honey: from acacia or sweet chestnut flowers.

The product

Lunigiana acacia honey stays clear and runny for a long period of time and can be found like this throughout its shelf life. It might become cloudy because of the formation of crystals but it will never become completely crystallised. The honey is very pale in colour from almost colourless to pale yellow. The scent is light, not persistent, fruity and similar to the flower. The taste is decidedly sweet with a slight acidity and lack of
bitterness. The aroma is very delicate, typically of vanilla, only a little persistent and with no aftertaste. The consistency is always viscous according to the water content. Lunigiana sweet chestnut honey stays clear and runny for a long period of time and can be found like this throughout its shelf life. It might much later become slightly crystallised. It is dark amber in colour with reddish tones, the scent strong and penetrating and the flavour persistent with a bitter note and aftertaste similar to its scent.

Beekeeping is widespread throughout the area, as the declarations beekeepers must make under Regional Law No. 69/95 show; 225 beekeepers and 4324 hives producing over 100 tons annually. The Lunigiana is almost completely devoid of pollutants, Miele della Lunigiana PDO and this factor, combined with a favourable succession of flowering and a presence of precious plant essences permits the production of honey having special qualitative characteristics above the national average. The remarkable number of acacia and sweet chestnut trees permit the production of their respective honeys with especially evident purity, which is further enhanced by the traditional methods of extraction, transformation and bottling. The purity of the aromas and compliance with standards of flavour are longestablished features of Lunigiana Honey.

Production area

The Lunigiana Honey area of production, processing, preparation and packaging comprises part of the territory of the province of Massa Carrara in the Tuscany Region, corresponding to the Lunigiana Mountain Community range.