Honey, or ‘bal‘ as it’s known in Türkiye, has been around for thousands of years and is known for its great taste and medicinal benefits. Turkish honey is some of the best in the world, and there are many different kinds, from common pine and flower varieties to speciality citrus, chestnut and lavender variations. If you love this golden nectar, you are spoilt for choice in Türkiye as even the world’s most prized and expensive honey comes from the mountains above Sile, selling for more than $12,000 a kilo.

About Turkish Honey

Türkiye is one of the worlds leading producers of honey, producing over 100,000 tons of it each year. The history of honey in Türkiye dates back more than 10,000 years, with coins found in Ephesus and writings in the great works of Homer all pointing to the love of this flavoursome bee product. Hardly a traditional breakfast is served in Türkiye without a bowl or drizzle of honey present, and traditional Turkish and old-wives remedies often contain honey as it’s believed to help heal so many ailments.

Honey is a product deeply engraved in Turkish culture. For many locals, beekeeping is a skill passed down through generations, and on a walk along almost any woodland or coastal trail, you see beehives nestled in the forest clearings and plateaus. It is the bees’ environment that flavours the honey we enjoy, so not all honey tastes the same. See below a brief guide to Turkish honey – and don’t forget, 360 Yachting are happy to add any mentioned to your provisions (except perhaps for “mad honey,” as we would like to keep you sane and healthy during your travels!)

THE MOST EXPENSIVE HONEY IN THE WORLD COMES FROM TURKEY

Yes, Türkiye produces the most expensive honey in the world, as recorded by the Guinness Book of Records. Nicknamed ‘Türkiye’s liquid gold,’ Centauri Honey sells for more than $12,000 a kilo and is one of the rarest and most nutrient-packed and medicinally beneficial of all varieties. This exclusive honey comes from a cave high in the hills above Sile on Türkiye’s Black Sea coast. Here, the plateaus are filled with medicinal herbs and flowers. This prized honey contains potassium, magnesium and many antioxidants, making it the most exclusive honey in the world.

COMMON VARIETIES OF TURKISH HONEY

Cicek Bal (Flower Honey)

The most popular table honey in Türkiye is cicek bal, produced by worker bees that collect nectar from a wide range of flowers. Cicek bal is known as ‘poly floral’ honey, meaning it has a typical sweet honey taste and no distinct flavour. As the honey enjoyed most with breakfast, on toast or in desserts, the golden hue and sweet flavour of cicek bal is the taste and colour most people associate when they think of honey.

Cam Bali (Pine Honey)

As the name suggests, pine honey or ‘cam bali’ is produced by bees that collect the honeydew excretions left on pine trees. Those cruising the southern Aegean and western Mediterranean coast of Türkiye will notice how dense the pine forests are in these regions. Provinces like Mugla, that homes Bodrum, Marmaris and Gocek, account for more than three-quarters of the pine honey produced in Türkiye.

Pine honey is darker and less sweet than cicek bal. It has a distinct flavour and is widely consumed due to its health benefits. Cam bali is said to contain more minerals and amino acids than many other varieties. It’s also said to assist weight loss, especially if a spoon of it is dissolved in warm water of a morning and drunk with a squeeze of lemon before breakfast.

Narenciye Bali (Citrus Honey)

This aromatic and flavoursome Turkish honey is another variety that stems mainly from the Mediterranean provinces of Türkiye. Areas like Antalya are famed for their lemon, orange and mandarin harvests, so the bees in these areas naturally collect the nectar from the citrus orchards. Citrus honey is thin and has a perfume-like flavour and aroma, it is also known to contain a lower glycemic index and higher levels of Vitamin C than other Turkish honey varieties.

SPECIALITY TURKISH HONEY

Kestane Bali (Chestnut Honey)

This speciality honey comes from the coastal region of the Black Sea and is produced by worker bees that farm the nectar of chestnut trees that blossom for only two weeks each June. It’s mainly known for its medicinal benefits and is said to ease asthma, boost energy and get rid of bad breath. Chestnut honey is an acquired taste and has a strong bitter flavour – it’s one to try if you suffer any breathing disorders or to have on hand should you ever scold yourself, as if used topically, it’s said to help burns heal.

Kekik Bali (Thyme Bali)

Another speciality Turkish honey is kekik bali – but this one really will make you squint as it does have a decidedly bitter taste! It is a pale honey, and another that’s consumed mainly for its medicinal purposes, as it’s believed to ease bloating, increase appetite and cure colds, coughs and wheezes.

Lavanta Bali (Lavender Honey)

Like kestane bali, lavender honey is produced for only a few weeks each June, and it mainly comes from the Burdur and Isparta regions famed for their lavender crops in Türkiye. Some gourmet Turkish restaurants include lavanta bali on their cheese boards, as the distinct flavour compliments strong speciality Turkish cheeses. Others buy it for its healing properties, as it’s a natural pain reliever and believed to help insomnia.

Akasya Bali (Acacia Honey)

One of the rarest and most revered honey varieties in Türkiye is acacia honey from the Kacker Mountains in Artvin. This honey is pure and often likened to manuka honey, as it’s believed to boost memory, help breathing and lung disorders, clean blood and help with stomach complaints and infections.

TURKEY’S DANGEROUS “DELI BAL” OR MAD HONEY

One type of Turkish honey not for the faint-hearted is “deli bal” or so-called “mad honey”. This honey is so rare that it hails from only two places in the world: the Kacker Mountains of Türkiye’s Black Sea coast and the Himalayas. As the name of this honey suggests, it can drive you mad – quite literally.

The reason this honey can send you ‘mad’ is that the nectar of the rhododendrons the bees collect from these parts is highly toxic, therefore, the honey contains dangerous psychedelic properties. Although some claim small quantities can be beneficial for treating anxiety and depression, most agree even a little can cause hallucinations, heart palpitations, dangerously low blood pressure and even death – so a variety best avoided on your travels!

Global efforts to save bees

Over recent years, bees have hit the spotlight due to an alarming decline in their numbers. Bee’s are responsible for around 80% of the world’s pollination, with just one bee colony capable of pollinating up to 300,000 flowers. Bee numbers have fallen by almost 90% since the 1960s, so something had to be done to protect them and, ultimately, our environment. Movies and documentaries were made to educate children and the public. People became aware that bees were far from stingy garden pests but played an essential role in pollinating the flowers of the fruits and vegetables we enjoy each day. Even celebrities like Morgan Freeman, a keen beekeeper, joined the campaign to save the bees and even converted his 124-acre Mississippi ranch into a bee sanctuary.

Thankfully bee preservation efforts are paying off, and global bee numbers are on the increase. In many countries, new measures are in place to protect bees and beekeeping, and Türkiye is no exception. Turkish honey is thought by many to be of the best in the world, so if you fancy trying some, don’t forget to ASK US to add some to your provisions.