Description: The Mel das Terras Altas do Minho PDO is a honey made from wild flowers by the black bees of the Apis mellifera Iberica species. The highest percentage of nectar comes from heathers (the Ericacee plant family).
Production method: The hives can be no further than 1.000 m from eucalyptus woods. The bees cannot be fed artificially and neither are repellents permitted. The honey must be extracted between July and September either by pressing or the traditional, combing method. Extraction and filtering must be carried out within the production area at a maximum temperature of 45 °C.
Distinctive features: The high quality of Mel das Terras Altas do Minho PDO honey is owed to this mountainous area in the north west of Portugal where it is produced. Apart from also having a considerable amount of rainfall, this region has very few towns and no industry at all therefore making it a perfect, natural unspoilt environment for the production of this high quality honey
Production area: Mel das Terras Altas do Minho PDO is made in a wide area of northern Portugal, in the districts of Viana do Castelo, Braga, Vila Real, Porto and Aveiro.
History: Many documents exist attesting to the fact that in the past in the area where Mel das Terras Altas do Minho PDO honey is produced it was also used as a form of currency, not only for commercial trading or for the payment of debts but also in payment of taxes to the king. For example, in the 12th century the inhabitants of the village of Freitas (in the Braga district), by request of the king, had to pay 200 kg of bees wax, while, in the reign of king Alphonse III, the subjects who made honey paid their taxes in bowls of this nectar.
Product specification (pdf)
Producer group
Publication in EU official journal
Regulamento (CE) n.º 1107/96 da Comissão de 12.06.1996 - L 148/1