Malta- The island of honey

The Islands main treasure is its stone, a type of limestone which traps the light in its corners, its panel and its curves. This golden stone, which earned Malta the name of Melita meaning the island of honey, has inspired its architecture. The Romans called Malta as “Melita”, the Greek word for honey, possibly giving Malta its present name.

Since ancient times, the Maltese Islands have been known for their special blended and spicy honey.

The Maltese Islands possess a very rich wild flora with over 1000 flowering plants recorded like Wild Thyme Thymus capitatus, White Clover Trifolium nigrescens, Bitumen Clover Psoralea bituminosa, White Mustard Diplotaxis erucoides, and Borage Borrago officinalis. Adding to the special taste of honey are the carob, citrus and stone fruit trees. This is one reason why the Islands are renowned for best quality honey produced. Honey is also effective in healing properties especially in the case of colds and cough.

Wild Thyme (Thymus capitatus) honey collected from the barren land in the North of Malta is the most preferred type of honey. The honey bee (Apis mellifera) is known to habitat the Maltese Islands for centuries. A local honeybee (Apis mellifera rutnerii) is presently being studied and identified, since it is somewhat different from other Mediterranean bees.

Numerous locations of the Island have topographic testimonies of the apicultural vocation. In particular the city of Mellieha found in north of the Island, even today is still an important apicultural location principally for the gathering of wild thyme honey.

The traditional apiculture practices in Malta represent those of the Greek Islands. A significant testimony of the Greek influence is furnished in the traditional earthenware jars adapted in the Maltese Islands. These jars are of a horizontal type and present a noticeable resemblance to the jars of Crete. Beekeeping in Malta experienced a boom and adopted many beneficial foreign techniques during the periods of the Arabs.