Honey for sweet moments and well-being

Explore honey Slovenia

Honey is deemed to be the first sweetener in the world, since sugar was produced until the third century AD. Even the first civilisations were aware of the exceptional features of honey. Did you know that the Romans used sugar as a means of payment?

Honey and bee products play an important role in Slovenian beekeeping tradition. Beekeeping has a long tradition in Slovenia which is home to “revolutionaries” in beekeeping such as Peter Pavel Glavar and Anton Janša. Janša was also the first teacher of beekeeping at the court of Maria Theresa, Empress of the Habsburg Dynasty, and introduced revolutionary changes in the manner of beekeeping, which are still used by beekeepers worldwide. The General Assembly of the United Nations declared 20 May, the date of his birth, World Bee Day for his contribution to global beekeeping.

But back to honey ... Take a peek inside Slovenian kitchens and learn all about its sweetness.

A sweet experience of the honey tradition

Our ancestors made various desserts from honey, which you can still taste today. Since the Middle Ages, honey has been used to make honey biscuits – gingerbread. You can learn about stories told by products made of gingerbread at the Living Gingerbread Museum in Radovljica or at the Medeni raj Museum and Gallery in Slovenj Gradec. Traditional Slovenian products made of honey also include small breads from Dražgoše and Škofja Loka. Honey is an ingredient of potica and also used in numerous other Slovenian delicacies. You can also drink a toast with honey. Our ancestors used a significant portion of honey to prepare mead. Initially, this was a kind of honey wine, but in the 19th century honey brandy and honey liqueur appeared. Today, you may also taste sparkling mead and honey beer.

Protected types of honey in Slovenia

There are three protected types of honey in Slovenia, which guarantee high quality and authentic taste. Taste Slovenian honey with protected geographical indication. You will recognise it by its unique protection labels placed across the lid of a jar. Pick your favourite type – acacia, flower, linden, spruce, forest, fir or chestnut honey. Forest honey from the Karst and the Kočevje region have protected designation of origin. The flavour of Karst honey is full and distinctive contributed by the honey plants of the Karst. A special feature of Kočevje forest honey is that bees pasture in ecologically pristine, mainly forest, landscape with diverse flora, which allows for the production of high-quality honey.

Bee products for well-being

Due to its structure, honey has positive effects on our well-being. You probably treat yourself to tea with honey, particularly when you fall ill, don't you? When you catch a cold or cough, a home-made honey lozenge comes in handy. Even famous opera singers swear by honey, since they believe that it has a soothing effect on the throat and vocal cords. In addition to honey, you can also make yourself feel better with other bee products such as propolis, pollen and royal jelly. Numerous wellness programmes, from massages to honey saunas, also take every advantage of honey and bee products.

Follow honey traces ...

and see how deep the beekeeping tradition is rooted in the Slovenian consciousness. Embark on the path of health and well-being, and spoil yourself with other tastes of traditional and modern Slovenian cuisine.