Slovenia is a country with a very diverse landscape, plenty of woods and meadows. Therefore, it is somehow obvious that also the fruits of its nature are quite common. One of the oldest Slovenian traditions is production of honey.
The essential sources in honey production are nectar and honeydew. Bees carry these materials to the hive and modify them by adding glandular secretions and condensing this mixture. Honey is produced in this process, which is then stored in the comb cells by closing the cells with a wax cover. To our climate, cold winters and hot summers, over the millennia particularly adapted Carniolan honeybee (Apis mellifera carnica).
Bee life deserves all our respect: every act of a bee is actually a miracle for itself. Have we ever heard, that for one kilogram (two pounds) of honey the bees have to visit 4 million flowers - or they have to fly the millage of an Equator for just that little amount of honey.
Our farmers and intellectuals have noticed the mystical life of bees very early. Slovenia, or better said Carniola, has always been a cradle of beekeeping knowledge and first apicultural schools in whole Hapsburg Empire were opened here. The pioneer of modern Beekeeping is Anton Janša, who was born on May 20, 1734. His birthday is now declared a World Bee Day, which will contribute to the awareness of the importance of bees and beekeeping. Next to that, since last November,Council of Europe has accepted Slovenian initiative and officially declared so called “European Honey Breakfast Day”. The aim of the day is to raise public awareness about the importance of bees and honeybee products, of leading a healthy lifestyle, and enjoying locally-sourced food.
Various types of honey are produced in Slovenia. The most common honey types in our area are acacia, linden, chestnut, silver fir, European spruce, honeydew, and flower honey.
Another very special story talks about so-called Panjske končnice: a very colorful painted beehive panels, which are unique: tell us stories that were shared in past times about our life here on Earth or about life promised to us in the Bible.
While in Slovenia, you have a chance to get familiar with our beekeeping tradition, about the stories behind the scene or even taste our different kinds of honey on a Guided Walking City Tour, on a Ljubljana Food Tour, or on a new special Honey trail. If you have more time we invite you to join us on a half day to one of the closest centers of Beekeeping production in the central part of Slovenia or on a day tour while discovering our honey and milk land in Carniola.
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