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Euganean Hills Honeys

Acacia flowers
ACACIA HONEY
In Euganean Hills land, acacia trees bloom in late april and  may, but, in spite of its short harvest season, acacia is one of the most important, best known and most appreciated honeys. It is a light yellow honey of delicate taste, with a very slow crystallization due to the very low glucose content. It has anti-inflammatory property for the respiratory tract and gastrointestinal system. The light taste makes it suitable for children and elderly people, it is also suitable to sweeten food, because it does not alter the flavours.
Meadow of Euganean Hills
WILDFLOWERS HONEY
A honey whose colour can be lighter or darker, depending on the flowers from which it is made. Rich in mineral substances and suitable as food integrator in cases of physical weariness and anaemia. It has a compact crystallization due to the high glucose content.
metcalfa WOOD HONEYDEW 
A very dark brown, almost black honey. In Euganean Hills it is harvested in last summer by the bees from the honeydew, that is the sugar secretions of some insect pests, expecially of Metcalfa pruinosa (Homoptera), a small insect, coming from North America. It is very rich in mineral salts and suitable for circulatory, respiratory and skin diseases, Slow crystallization in big knots. Is excellent for sport and physical activity . 
Chestnut tree flowers CHESTNUT HONEY
Chestnut tree forests cover the cooler areas of the Euganean Hills, generally exposed to Norh. The chestnut tree blooms in summer, in the late June and July and is the greater honey production in this area, as in the most of national territory. A low crystallization, dark brown honey, with a typical sharp flavour and bitter taste. It has a very high mineral salts content which makes it suitable in cases of physical weariness and anaemia. It purifies blood and is indicated in the prevention of circulatory diseases and as decongestant and disinfectant of the urinary and respiratory systems.
Lime tree leaves LIME TREE HONEY
In Euganean land lime tree blooms in May, June and July. It is native to much of Europe, and is widely grown as an ornamental tree in gardens, parks and tree-lined avenues. The nectar is strongly flavoured, and is produced a valuable light yellow, perfumed and rapidly crystallized honey. It contains substances which stimulate toxin elimination and help perspiration and diuresis. It also has spasmolytic and sedative properties.
Dandelion flowers DANDELION HONEY
Dandelion (the local name is "pissacan", (= pissing  dog)), is at home in the north temperate zone, in pastures, meadows and on waste ground. Is the first strong blooming In Euganean Hills useful  for nectar collecting.
Dandelion honey is of a glowing yellow like the flower. It is rich of glucose with a rapid cristallization, so the harvest must be done quickly. It has a peculiar taste, very sweet but also with the slight scent of ammoniac of the Dandelion flower. It is famous for its diuretic qualities.
 
BEEKEEPING
IN
EUGANEAN HILLS
Tradition and cultural continuity
Landscape of Euganean Hills     The Euganean Hills are a group of hills of volcanic origin, that rise to heights of 300 to 600 meters (the higher hill is Mount Venda, 601 m) from plain a few kilometers from Padua. The Euganean Hills form the first regional park established in the Veneto region, enclosing fifteen towns and eighty-one hills.  Because of the geological origin, the Hills have a high level of biodiversity for climate regime, soil, landscape and topography, with more than 1000 botanical species existing in the area.
A great number of this species, although appreciated by bees, are not present in sufficient amount to produce a monofloral honey harvest, and originate various types of wildflowers honey, liquid or crystallized, clear or dark. Other plants are much more diffused, like acacia and chestnut tree, and contribute to high quality monofloral honey harvests.      Wild rose flowers
Euganean Hills bees, Apis mellifera ligustica, var. spinola     From ancient times, Euganean Hills honey, such as wine, olive oil, chees and salumi, is a  product of local agriculture, and is included in the official list of Veneto Region Traditional Products.
Is important to create a designation related with the locality of honey production, such as   - Protected Geographic Indication (the second of four classifications  recognized by the government of Italy), intended to protect the quality and peculiarity of local honey. 
   BRAVAPE Agroecosistema Euganeo S.r.l. via Noiera 17 GALZIGNANO TERME (PD) ITALY - FAX: 049 9130162 - e-mail: bravape@iol.it