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Honey, by nature, reflects the distinctiveness of the area in which it is produced and distils the essences that distinguish it from other areas. It is, therefore, a unique and inimitable food. The different surroundings make every honey a peculiar blend of nectar-bearing essences. Mugello mostly produces three types of honey.
Characteristics of Mugello honey
Acacia honey: this honey is liquid, pale yellow, almost transparent; has a very delicate sweet taste, and a very fine and lasting smell. The aroma is somewhat similar to that of flowers and vanilla.
Chestnut honey: the presence of numerous chestnut woods (among which we find the renowned Marrone chestnut) facilitates the production of this honey, which is produced on medium high mountains; it is rather runny, and bright amber. It is not exceptionally sweet and has a somewhat bitter aftertaste and a strong aroma that reminds us of the smell of chestnut woods. It stays runny for a long period of time, and is pale golden amber with a strong herbal aroma. Like all dark honeys, it is particularly rich in mineral salts. It is a bland disinfectant for the urinary tract, helps stimulate the flow of blood, and is beneficial to the health of the kidney and liver.
Flower essences: since this honey comes from many flower species, it offers different qualities from these different nectars. It is fluid but grainy, bitter-sweet with a sour aftertaste, and varies in colour from pale-green to blue-brown. It is produced from May to September.
 A can of acacia honey
The history
Chestnut honey: historically speaking, the production of honey goes back a long way in areas where there is a high density of chestnut woods - as numerous accounts, texts and documents testify - and it has been an integral part of the principal productions of local farms in Tuscany for many years. Once upon a time, every family had beehives, but the honey, rich in nutrients and beneficial substances, was more or less only a secondary product. More recently, it has become a key product for farms that are specialised in tending beehives and producing honey. Though, in substance, the production method is the traditional one, honey making has progressed to meet quality standards. The most important changes regard the use of removable honeycombs, a centrifuge instead of a press, and the use of filters.
How and where it is produced
Producers follow up every aspect of production, from the actual bees to the extraction and packaging of the product. The bee colonies are reared in wooden beehives and move in a three kilometre radius around the beehives. They are usually self sufficient, but in cold and damp spring seasons their food is integrated with honey or a water and sugar solution. To prevent the onset of diseases specific products are used at the end of the productive period and in winter. The honeycombs are taken out of the beehives and taken to a lab where the wax capping is scraped off, they are then placed in an extractor. Revolving baskets spin around until the honey is released. The honey is then strained, deposited in stainless steel containers and left to decant 15 days during which time all the impurities and air bubbles come to the surface and can be skimmed off. In some cases the straining process must be repeated. The honey is then put into glass vases by hand or with the help of specially made machines.
| AGRICOLA PIGNANO | Town: Dicomano Phone: 055 8386905 Fax: 055 8386905 | Production and sale of honey (derived from flower essences, chestnut, acacia and cherry), fresh vegetables, jam and in oil vegetables. | | | | APICOLTURA ANGELI MAURO | Town: Firenzuola Phone: 055 819380 - 3332207840 | Production and sale of honey derived from acacia, flower essences and chestnut. | | | | APICOLTURA BANDINI CARLO | Town: Scarperia Phone: 055 8406897 - 328 0364391 | Production and sale of honey derived from acacia, chestnut, honey dew, flower essences and sunflower. | | | | APICOLTURA NALDONI ALESSANDRO | Town: Vicchio Phone: +39 055 844135 - 333 1834690 | Production and sale of different varieties of honey (derived from acacia, flower essences and chestnut). | | | | APICOLTURA TORTELLI di Tortelli Franco | Town: Barberino di Mugello Phone: 055 8416000 Fax: 055 8416000 | Production and sale of honey, pollen, royal jelly, beeswax and propoli. | | | | APICOLTURA VALENTINI | Town: Borgo San Lorenzo Phone: + 39 055 8403454 Fax: +39 055 8403454 | Production and sale of different varieties of honey (derived from acacia, flower essences, chestnut and honeydew). | | | | AZIENDA AGRICOLA ALTO MUGELLO PODERE CASTELNUOVO | Town: Marradi Phone: +39 347 2108586 | Production and sale of cinta pork, marroni, honey derived from acacia and chestnut and pure saffron of the Florentine hills, home-made soap and vinegar. | | | | AZIENDA AGRICOLA IL POGGIOLO di Rossi Silvia | Town: Borgo San Lorenzo Phone: +39 055 416072 – 331 1089759 | Production and sale of honey (derived from flower essences, acacia, chestnut, lime, honey dew and lupinella), marroni and marroni flour. | | | | AZIENDA AGRICOLA KESSLER BIRGIT | Town: Barberino di Mugello Phone: 055 8423148 - 339 3789919 | Production and sale of honey derived from acacia, flower essences and chestnut. | | | | AZIENDA AGRICOLA L'OPPIO di Raffini Giuseppe | Town: Firenzuola Phone: + 39 055 817082 | Production and sale of honey derived from honeydew, chestnut and acacia and marroni. In 2009 the farm won 2 Golden Drops at the competition Grandi Mieli d'Italia.
| | | | AZIENDA AGRICOLA MANGIAFERRO VASCO | Town: Firenzuola Phone: +39 055 819538 - 334 7361464 | Production and sale of different varieties of honey (derived from acacia, flower essences, chestnut). | | | | AZIENDA AGRICOLA SCARPELLI FEDERICO | Town: Firenzuola Phone: +39 055 8144046 | Production and sale of different varieties of honey (derived from acacia, flower essences and chestnut).
| | | | AZIENDA AGRITURISTICA BIOLOGICA IL POGGIO ALLE VILLE | Town: Borgo San Lorenzo Phone: +39 055 8408752 - 335 8239017 Fax: +39 055 599828 | Production and sale of organic products: extra-virgin olive oil processed by cold oil-press, millefiori, chestnut and acacia honey, jam, vegetables and truffles from the owner’s own truffle-ground. | | | | AZIENDA AGRITURISTICA BIOLOGICA SANVITALE | Town: Borgo San Lorenzo Phone: + 39 055 8401158 Fax: + 39 055 8401158 | Production and sale of CCPB certified organic products: different varieties of honey (derived from acacia, honey dew, flower essences and chestnut) , jams, and canned goods; IGP marrone; maize, wheat and chestnut flour; and biscuits made from the diverse types of flour. | | | | AZIENDA AGRITURISTICA IL PALAZZACCIO | Town: Barberino di Mugello Phone: 055 8428110 - 338 6992988 Fax: 055 8428110 | Production and sale of honey derived from acacia, flower essences, and chestnut, Tuscan IGP extra vergin olive oil, black and white truffles. | | | | AZIENDA AGRITURISTICA LA RIPA | Town: Borgo San Lorenzo Phone: + 39 333 3660793 | Production and sale of organic products: honey (derived from honeydew and acacia), apples and potatoes.
| | | | Coop.va di consumo POLCANTO | Town: Borgo San Lorenzo Phone: +39 055 8409914 Fax: +39 055 8409914 | Sale of local rosato, red and white local wine, bottled and wine on tap, bread, marrone flour, Mugello truffles, fresh pasta, local tortelli, cheeses and honey. | | | | PODERE RIO II | Town: Vicchio Phone: +39 333 4243603 | Production and sale of honey derived from flower essences, vegetables and pure saffron of the Florentine hills. | | | | TERTULIA - Podere Il Monte | Town: Vicchio Phone: +39 055 8493016 - 328 1782824 | Production and sale of potatoes, different varieties of honey (derived from acacia, flower essences, chestnut) and IGP marroni. | | |
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