Honey, highly valued for its richness in trace elements, minerals and vitamins, offers a variety of choices among which Garrigue honey stands out. This stands out for its intense flavor, providing many benefits to its followers. It comes from a plant formation characteristic of the Mediterranean scrub, known as "Garrigue", composed of wild flowers. Although not very famous, garrigue honey is cherished by some honey connoisseurs. So, what exactly is garrigue honey and what are the benefits of consuming it?
A honey from the south
Garrigue, a plant formation similar to maquis, characterizes the Mediterranean region, particularly Languedoc and Provence. Spread over approximately 400,000 hectares, it is home to a degraded forest ecosystem, giving rise to a unique honey known as garrigue honey. Under the intense southern sun, garrigue bees brave the arid climatic conditions to forage on flowers and honey-producing plants around the Mediterranean. The honey they produce inevitably reflects this unique ecosystem, with its racy, full-bodied character and its rich, persistent flavors.
Garrigue bee honey, sometimes called Provence honey or all-flower honey by beekeepers, is distinguished by unique tastes and aromas. Garrigue honeys stand out from other French honeys due to their composition dominated by rosemary, thyme, lavender and white clover. These honeys combine the aromatic properties of Corsican honey, lavender, thyme, clover and rosemary. Compared to more common products such as orange blossom honey or lime blossom honey, they offer a richer aroma and a more pronounced flavor.
The harvest of Garrigue honey
The harvest of garrigue honey is subject to fluctuations. The excessively hot climatic conditions in the south do not make the task any easier. Indeed, the heat is not conducive to the flowering of plants, which makes it difficult for the bees to find enough flowers to forage on to provide the necessary food for the colony.
Garrigue honey is obtained after bees have collected nectar and pollen from a variety of southern flowers and honey plants, such as thyme, white heather, bramble, white clover, asphodel, savory, lavender and rosemary.
If you are a professional beekeeper or honey producer, you might wonder how garrigue honey is made. Be aware that the harvest of Provence honey is random due to the arid climatic conditions in the region, making it difficult for plants to flower. This makes it more difficult for worker bees to find pollen and feed the bee colonies in the hive. The production of garrigue honey depends on the nectar and pollen of flowers from the south.
The composition of Garrigue honey
Our garrigue honey has the characteristic taste of the Mediterranean region, and evokes Provence, its original cradle. This region sees the blossoming of a variety of plants present in most garrigue honeys. The garrigue is associated with rosemary, thyme, lavender, emblematic plants of the region.
- Rosemary, with its beautiful blue-violet flowers rich in trace elements, brings a distinctive sweetness to garrigue honey.
- Thyme, known for its medicinal properties and powerful flavor.
- Lavender, which gives garrigue honey fruity and sweet flavors that linger in the mouth.
- Other honey plants: savory, oregano and bupleurum.
Garrigue honey: its benefits
Garrigue honey, rich in various trace elements and vitamins, effectively helps to alleviate fatigue and compensate for nutritional deficiencies. Thanks to its antiseptic properties, it proves to be a valuable ally in the fight against flu and various diseases, offering increased protection during the winter season.
Of course, although its antiseptic properties do not rival those of fir honey, recognized as one of the best French honeys for its antiviral properties against the flu, garrigue honey remains appreciated for its antiseptic and diuretic qualities. Throughout the ages, honey has embodied both a food and a remedy with multiple health benefits, a characteristic that is also found in garrigue honey. This fragrant honey, made from a powerful nectar, is distinguished by its effectiveness as an antiseptic. It can be consumed internally to fight microbes and used as a poultice for the treatment of various wounds.
Garrigue honey is also known for its fortifying, tonic and diuretic properties. To enhance its antiviral and antibacterial effects, it can be combined with thyme, creating an effective remedy against flu and colds.
Why consume it?
The benefits of natural garrigue honey are multiple. Composed of many vitamins promoting optimal digestion, this honey, from organic farming without pesticides, acts as an antiseptic similar to an antibiotic. Its properties allow the treatment of wounds in poultice and the elimination of microbes when taken internally. Organic garrigue honey is also effective in soothing coughs, relieving sore throats and hoarse voices.
The production of organic garrigue honey is also motivated by its usefulness as an antioxidant, fortifying, antibacterial and antiviral. In addition to its medicinal virtues, this French honey contains other natural compounds beneficial to the body, such as sucrose and fructose, giving its hive products a fruity scent. Finally, wild honey from Provence, in addition to its benefits, is a source of calcium, enzymes and antioxidant compounds essential for maintaining good health.
How to taste it?
Garrigue honey offers a marked taste intensity, accompanied by a powerful and captivating fragrance. It will seduce robust palates in search of new flavors, leaving lasting memories. It undeniably recalls the flavors of the Mediterranean region, some even claim to hear the song of the cicadas! In terms of tasting, some appreciate it with a cheese platter, in sweet and savory recipes, in yogurts or simply on toast.
Recipes: Spicy rabbit skewers and nectarines with garrigue honey, sweet mustard sauce
Preparation time: 40 min
Cooking time: 25 min
Ingredients for 4 people:
- 3 tbsp of La Miellerie garrigue honey
- 4 nectarines
- 2 plain yogurts
- 1 tsp mild English mustard
- 8 skewers
- 2 tbsp coarsely ground flaked almonds
- 1 tbsp thyme
- 4 tbsp grapeseed oil
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp Teriyaki sauce
- 50 g Jules Destrooper ginger biscuits
- 2 boneless rabbit saddles
Preparation steps:
- Mix the biscuits.
- Place the grape seed oil, olive oil, Teriyaki sauce, 2 tbsp garigue honey, almonds and crushed biscuits in an airtight container. Mix well.
- Cut the rabbit loins into small cubes and put them in the marinade. Close the can and shake to mix well then refrigerate for 4 hours.
- Cut the nectarines into 4 quarters then cut these quarters in 2
- Place the remaining spoonful of honey and the thyme in a bowl and dip the nectarines in it.
- Take a skewer and thread a piece of nectarine then 2 pieces of rabbit again a piece of nectarine then 2 pieces of rabbit then finish with a piece of nectarine. Do the same for all the skewers.
- Cook the skewers on the griddle.
- Serve with a little sweet mustard dipping sauce.
- For the accompanying sauce: in a bowl, put the rest of the marinade, the teaspoon of mild English mustard and the 2 plain yogurts. Mix using a hand blender then put in small bowls.
- Enjoy!
Want to discover another recipe, perfect for winter evenings? Discover our recipe for roasted camembert with honey, walnuts and rosemary .
The unique composition of garrigue honey, the result of bees foraging in the rich ecosystem of the garrigue, combines the aromas of rosemary, thyme, lavender, and many other honey-producing plants. Beyond its taste profile, garrigue honey is full of health benefits, with its antiseptic properties, its energizing power, and its soothing role for the throat.
