Honey - History & Benefits

Honey and humans have a long history going back thousands of years, even before domesticated animals, baked goods, or farms. Humans, as evidenced by Mesolithic paintings, began hunting for honey at least 8,000 years ago. During antiquity, honey was highly valued and widely used in Hellas and other countries all over the world.

Honey and the art of beekeeping has been around for thousands of years in Hellas, and excavations in Faistos, Crete revealed honeycombs made of clay aged since the Minoan Era (3400 BCE).  Since then, beekeeping was widely spread throughout ancient Hellas and honey was vastly included in the ancient Hellenic life and gastronomy.

The ancient Hellenes would call honey “Nectar of the Gods” and used it extensively in their recipes, both sweet and savory. They added honey in meat pies and cheese breads, sprinkled it on cheeses and pancakes, retained fruit in it and would even mix it with alcohol, making the famous Oenomel and Rakomelo.

Meanwhile, honey was highly esteemed and cherished by the ancient Hellenes for its nutritional and medicinal properties. Hippocrates, the “Father of Medicine”, believed that honey can clean and heal sores and ulcers and would also praise the wondrous effects of Oenomel for the sick and the healthy. Aristotle believed that honey prolonged life and built a glass hive so as to observe and document the bees at work, while Pythagoras supported that honey combats fatigue and adds to one’s well-being.

Today, beekeeping in Hellas is still a part of the rubric with a total of 1.5 million beehives in all of the country. There are many types of Hellenic honey such as Thyme Honey, Anthomelo (flower honey) and Dasomelo (forest honey). Thyme honey, originally sourced from the slopes of Mount Hymettus in the Attica region, is considered to be one of the most nutritional types of honey and holds a place among the most powerful superfoods in the world.

THYME: Thyme honey is the most revered Greek honey mainly because thyme-fed bees produce less honey, making it rarer and more expensive. Thyme honey is light in color, with an intense herbal aroma, and tends to crystallize after about 6 to 18 months, depending on storage conditions and temperature. Produced in spring, when thyme flowers, the most famous types are from Crete and Kythera.

PINE: About 65% of all Greek honey is pine honey. Its mahogany color highlights its rich mineral content, which includes potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, iron, and sodium. It does not crystallize easily. Pine honey has the highest percentage of antioxidants of all Greek honey.

BLOSSOM: From wild flowers and orange blossoms, it has a delicious aroma that is more delicate than other honeys. It can crystallize more easily.

HEATHER: Produced in early autumn, after the first rains, if it is warm enough for heather to blossom. Dark, reddish color and very thick, almost solid, it has a spreadable texture. It tends to crystallize in about three months.

CHESTNUT: Very different type, with a very faint, pleasant bitterness, it is one of the rarest Greek honeys.

FIR: The only PDO Greek honey, from Vytina in the Peloponnese. It is considered one of the rarest and best and almost never crystallizes.

Honey, and particularly Hellenic honey, carries an abundance of nutritional and medicinal properties. Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, honey is an excellent addition to a balanced diet and can benefit one’s health in a number of ways.

1.  Heart Health

Honey is a rich source of phenols and other antioxidant compounds that have been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease. Antioxidants can help the heart arteries dilate, increasing blood flow to the heart. They may also help prevent blood clot formation, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. 

2.  Cognitive Function

Honey is known to help the body absorb calcium which is used by the brain in the thought and decision-making process. Also, studies have shown that honey boosts memory, prevents cellular damage in the brain and reduces the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

3.  Heal Burns and Cuts

Following the footsteps of Hippocrates, honey has been used for centuries as a remedy for wounds and burns. Its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties help fight infections and treat burns. At the same time, honey has the ability to boost the skin’s healing process and, by allowing new skin cells to generate, prevent scarring.

4.  Anti-aging

Honey is an effective natural anti-aging product, whether it is used internally or externally. Rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, and antibacterial compounds, honey can fight the free radicals that damage the skin as we age. At the same time, honey can also treat different types of skin problems such as inflammation, redness, breakouts and acne.

5.  Cough and Sore Throat Remedy

Honey is a time-honored remedy for cases of cough and sore throat, and a wonderful alternative to over-the-counter medicines.  Due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, honey can relieve cough, soothe a sore throat, and speed the recovery process. 

6.  Natural Energy Booster

According to Pythagoras, the ancient Hellene philosopher, consuming honey can combat fatigue. Modern science confirms that theory since it has been proved that the glucose in honey, due to it being absorbed quickly from the body, gives an immediate energy boost. Meanwhile, the fructose, which is absorbed more slowly, provides sustained energy and prevents a sugar rush.