Lavender honey (Provence) 250g

Its nectar is used to produce a high-quality, aromatic honey, much appreciated by consumers. It's a sweetness emblematic of Provence, but it's also the pride of the whole of France. For lavender honey is certainly a targeted product of the hive. If Provence immediately brings to mind olive oil mills, tomatoes or Marseille soap, this regional hotbed of predilection is much wider than people think.

Identifying the production area

Provence lavender honey corresponds to a vast production zone encompassing more than five départements. And as most people would agree, it's not the area around the Cité Phocéenne that accounts for the majority of beekeeping production. Indeed, while lavender graces the grounds and parks of the southern Mediterranean departments in summer, in its natural state, the plant with its excellent, pronounced aroma grows in profusion on the plateaux of the Alpilles, where foragers can dispose of it in abundance. In fact, the Alpes de Haute Provence and Vaucluse are the main production areas. However, beekeeping for lavender honey has also developed in Var, Drôme, Bouches du Rhône and Gard. Lavender fields growing wild in the countryside can be found on the plateaus and high hills of the Lubéron, Verdon and Baronnies Provençales regional parks.

Lavender honey: 5 typical flowers at the heart of honey production

Lavender is not a homogeneous flower. There are several varieties. Today, 5 types of plant flourish magnificently in the heart of the Baux de Provence region. Although lavender honey is exclusively monofloral. The character of these plants in the sunlight gives off a fresh, pleasant scent. These will define the pronounced taste of this tasty honey. As a result, lavender honey can be blended with the following species:

• Aspic.
• Lavandin (hybrid resulting from a cross between aspic and true lavender)
• English lavender (originally from Provence, not England).
• Butterfly lavender.
• True or officinal lavender.

Depending on the flower foraged by the bee, lavender honey will be more or less crystallized. The same applies to bees foraging on aspic. The big difference between the different plant categories is simply a question of altitude. Lavandin tends to grow exclusively at altitudes of over 800 meters. The other species, on the other hand, flower ideally at altitudes of between 350 and 400 metres. Lavandin's ability to concentrate and spread over larger areas will be favored by bees. True lavender is the flower of choice for aromatherapy and the production of essential oils. Beekeepers in the Alpes de Haute Provence have impressive plots of land in which to place their hives from May to August. Lavender honey can therefore be produced continuously throughout the flowering season.

A closer look at its specific characteristics

Lavender nectar is very rich in taste, but poor in quantity. Fortunately, lavender fields are abundant. This leaves plenty of choice for the thousands of bees that will pleasantly scoop up the flower's pollen. It has to be said that the freshness of the plant attracts foragers. In southern Mediterranean villages where lavender is a common sight on roundabouts or communal flowerbeds, it's common to see foragers flocking to the mauve bouquets. This attraction to the flower creates a lavender honey with a creamy texture and delicate taste that lingers on the taste buds. Light golden yellow in color, it tends to turn white during crystallization. However, it keeps beautifully. Lavender honey is ideally suited to expressing a taste rich in fructose. But it also gives off floral notes typical of the emblem of Provence.

And what does lavender honey do therapeutically?

Lavender honey from Provence has almost the same properties as linden honey. These two typically Gallic melliferous best-sellers are the pride of France. Both are excellent for combating rheumatism and insomnia. In fact, both flowers are favored for their sedative properties in herbal teas. Lavender honey is also recognized for its antispasmodic, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory action. Lavender honey is also recognized for its antispasmodic, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory action. This honey will be appreciated not only for its authentic taste, but also in cosmetology. Although it is produced during the summer months, it is highly recommended for boosting the body's immune system and giving it a boost during the winter. It is therefore ideal for soothing coughs and all transient illnesses affecting the respiratory system (bronchitis, angina and flu). Rich in antioxidants and flavonoids, it encourages healing and regenerates cellular activity within the body.

How to use it every day?

French custom calls for lavender honey to be spread on buttered toast at breakfast. The sunny South of France is the perfect place to enjoy this delicious dish. But this honey from Provence is just as useful for accompanying certain meats such as beef or duck, where a tablespoon will enhance the taste of the dish. But there's one recipe in which this typical product of the Drôme region adds unrivalled flavor to a world-renowned confectionery. This is Montélimar nougat, whose PDO label confirms the region's ancestral know-how. Almonds and lavender honey are the privileged ingredients that will surpass in taste the Turrón of our Iberian neighbors. These are just some of the benefits that honey from Provence can bring to your recipes.