Burgundy honey: a regional treasure

Burgundy honey: a regional treasure with an authentic taste

Burgundy, a region known for its prestigious wines, unique and authentic architecture, is also distinguished by its unmissable gastronomy. Among its treasures is an emblematic jewel of the Burgundy region: Burgundy honey. Produced with passion by our beekeepers, Burgundy honey reflects all the richness and unique flavors of this terroir. In this article, we will discover the secrets of Burgundy honey and its best pairings.

1. An ideal region for gourmet honeys

Remarkable floral biodiversity

Burgundy is one of the most suitable French regions for quality honeys full of flavor. Indeed, the richness of the vineyards, plains, and floral variety offer our bees a playground worthy of the name. As a result, pollen and nectar are not lacking for our dear foraging bees.

For quality honeys, our bees can count on our beekeepers. True enthusiasts, they take care to establish hives in protected areas away from roads. As a result, bees benefit from a vast and varied flora for foraging. The honey is then carefully harvested at maturity when our little foragers have explored our beautiful region of Burgundy as they should.

2. The main varieties of honey in Burgundy

Burgundy allows our beekeepers to harvest several types of honey depending on the environment visited by the bees.

1) Burgundy Honey

This is the honey most representative of the Burgundy terroir. It results from the foraging of numerous wild flowers such as hawthorn, sunflower, and fruit trees. It is harvested from May to September.

Burgundy honey, with its golden colors, has the particularity of being sweet while revealing gourmet and fruity flavors. Its creamy texture is ideal for spreading on fresh bread: a gourmet moment to start the day well. To end it well, it will perfectly accompany your infusions.

In general, honey is a natural source of energy, it has antibacterial and healing properties, and helps fight winter ailments.

Burgundy honey, on the other hand, has the particularity of having a high enzymatic diversity due to the diversity of the flowers foraged. As a result, it helps to promote digestion and improve the diversity of the microbiota. Burgundy honey is also indicated for cholesterol, and it also promotes sleep by naturally releasing melatonin (the sleep hormone).

2) Linden Honey

Linden trees are numerous in the parks, avenues, and forests of Burgundy. Its harvest taking place in early July then leaves us the pleasure of tasting it and feeling the freshness of Burgundy lindens through its minty flavors.

This honey, whose colors vary between off-white and light yellow, is renowned for its soothing properties due to the presence of flavonoids (antioxidants). It thus reduces stress and helps to calm anxiety.

Linden honey will perfectly accompany soft cheeses such as ricotta, fresh cheese, goat cheese, or even cottage cheese. Its minty notes combine very well with the light taste of these cheeses. For pastries, it will be perfect in a lemon cake recipe. Finally, on the savory side, it will subtly coat the flavors of salmon in a recipe for baked grilled salmon.

3) Acacia Honey

Very present in Burgundy, Acacia honey is the most appreciated honey by the French. With a beautiful golden color, it is distinguished by its liquid texture and its gourmet floral flavors with slight notes of vanilla. Its harvest occurs quite early in the year, between April and June.

Acacia honey has a low glycemic index due to its fructose content being higher than its glucose content (which is why it remains liquid). It is therefore ideal for avoiding blood sugar spikes.

It is essential for baking, its liquid texture and mild taste allow it to easily replace sugar in your preparations by enhancing your creations with fruity flavors.

5. Three exclusive recipes featuring Burgundy honeys

Roasted Carrot Velouté with Honey and Fresh Goat Cheese Whipped Cream

Ingredients for 4 people:

For the velouté:

• 600 g carrots

• 1 clove garlic

• 1 onion

• 1 tsp ground cumin

• 1 tsp sweet paprika

• 1 tbsp Burgundy honey

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 700 ml water or vegetable broth

• Salt, pepper
  
  

For the goat cheese whipped cream:

• 80 g fresh goat cheese

• 100 ml very cold liquid cream

• A drizzle of honey

• Pepper
  
  

For plating:

• A few seeds (pumpkin, sunflower…)

• A few sprigs of cilantro or flat-leaf parsley
  
  

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C.

2. Peel and slice the carrots.

3. Place them on a baking sheet with the onion cut into quarters and the unpeeled garlic.

4. Drizzle with olive oil, add cumin, paprika, pepper, and salt.

5. Then add a drizzle of honey to caramelize the ingredients and mix well.

6. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes until the carrots are slightly caramelized.

7. Remove the baking sheet from the oven, then remove the garlic from its skin.

8. Pour the vegetables into a saucepan with the broth.

9. Simmer for 5 minutes, then blend until a smooth velouté is obtained.

10. Now prepare the whipped cream by vigorously whisking the cold cream until firm.

11. Then incorporate the crumbled goat cheese.

12. Then add a drizzle of Burgundy honey, and don't forget to salt and pepper.
    

Plating:

1. Pour the hot velouté into bowls.

2. Place a spoonful of goat cheese whipped cream in the center, adding a drizzle of honey in the middle.

3. Finally, sprinkle with toasted seeds and fresh herbs.
   
   

Baked Grilled Salmon and Sautéed Potatoes

Ingredients for 4 people:

For the salmon:

• 4 salmon fillets (with skin preferably)

• 1 tbsp light soy sauce

• 2 tbsp Linden honey

• 1 tsp mild mustard

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 small grated garlic clove

• Salt, pepper

• A few sprigs of thyme or rosemary
  
  

For the sautéed potatoes:

• 600 g potatoes (new potatoes or classic)

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 sprig of rosemary or thyme

• 1 knob of butter

• Salt, pepper
  
  

Salmon preparation

1. Start by preparing the honey marinade in a small bowl. Mix together the honey, soy sauce, olive oil, mustard, grated garlic, salt, and pepper.

2. Place the salmon fillets in a dish and generously brush them with marinade.

3. Let everything marinate for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.

4. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius.

5. Place the salmon fillets on a baking sheet, skin side down.

6. Pour the remaining marinade over the salmon.

7. Bake for about 12 minutes until the top of the fillets is slightly caramelized.

Potato preparation

1. Cut the potatoes into cubes.

2. Pre-cook them for 8 to 10 minutes in salted boiling water.

3. Drain them well.

4. In a frying pan, heat the oil and butter.

5. Then add the potatoes with the rosemary.

6. Sauté them until they are slightly crispy.

7. Season with salt and pepper.
   
   

Plating

1. Place the grilled salmon fillets on plates.

2. Drizzle with a very small amount of Linden honey for extra gourmet flavor.

3. Add the crispy sautéed potatoes accompanied by a few sprigs of rosemary or thyme.

4. Enjoy!
   
   

Honey Pumpkin Cake

For the cake:

• 300 g pumpkin puree (butternut, red kuri squash, or pumpkin)

• 120 g Acacia honey

• 80 g brown sugar

• 2 eggs

• 200 g flour

• 80 g vegetable oil (or melted butter)

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp ground ginger

• 1/4 tsp nutmeg

• 1 tsp baking soda (optional but gives a better moistness)

• 1 sachet baking powder

• 1 pinch of salt

• Option: 60 g crushed walnuts or pecans
  
  

For the frosting:

• 150 g cream cheese (Philadelphia type)

• 2 tbsp honey

• 1 tsp lemon juice

• 1 tsp vanilla
  
  

Cake preparation:

1. Cut the pumpkin into cubes.

2. Cook for 15 min by steaming or in water.

3. Preheat the oven to 170°C.

4. Blend the pumpkin into a puree, then let cool.

5. In a large bowl: whisk the eggs, honey, sugar, and oil, mix well, and add the pumpkin puree.

6. In another bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt.

7. Then incorporate the dry mixture into the wet mixture without overworking the batter.

8. Finally, add the walnuts.

9. Pour the batter into a greased mold.

10. Then bake for 40 to 50 minutes.

11. Let cool before applying the frosting.
    
    

Honey frosting preparation:

Mix together the cream cheese, honey, lemon juice, and vanilla, then spread generously over the cooled cake.

Burgundy honeys, exceptional products to discover absolutely

Burgundy honeys represent the richness of our terroir in its purest form: authentic, fragrant, delicate, and so gourmet, our honeys will delight young and old alike at any time of the day. For breakfast, spread on toast, as a starter, main course, dessert, and even in pastries, they adapt to all your desires.

Their numerous benefits, such as improving the immune system, their soothing and antiseptic properties, will allow you to get through winter in the best conditions, and most importantly, with indulgence!