Eucalyptus Honey, Olivera Do Hospital, Portugal

The eucalyptus honey that I have is from Olivera do Hospital in Portugal.
Oliveira do Hospital is a municipality in the central part of continental Portugal in the district of Coimbra, which is known for, among other things, as having one of the oldest universities in Europe, the University of Coimbra (founded in 1308). The area has been inhabited since at least 465 BCE, first by the Romans, and later by the Visigoths, Moors, and Christians. Coimbra also has the distinction of being named the capitol of the new Kingdom (aka Portugal) in the mid-12th century by the first Portuguese King, Afonso Henriques.

Olivera do Hospital, which is located on the northern edge of the district of Coimbra, is home to about 5,000 inhabitants. It is an agricultural area known primarily for its wine and cheeses, located in the foothills of the Serra da Estrela Mountains, which are bisected by the Alva and Alvoco River valleys. They also make honey.

The producers of my eucalyptus honey, Quinta de Jugais (http://www.jugais.com) produce other types of honey (mountain, rosemary, orange, heather), as well as jams, olive oil, and tea. Their website states that they pride themselves in using traditional methods that produce high-quality products.

According to Wiki, 'Eucalyptus' comprises a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. There are more than 700 species of Eucalyptus, but most are native only to Australia, with only 15 species found in other areas. Eucalyptus trees are cultivated throughout the tropics and subtropics. Some Eucalyptus species are of interest to environmentalists because they are fast-growing sources of wood, produce oil that has natural insecticide qualities, and, can be used to drain swamps (given their 'water sucking' ability), thereby reduce the risk of malaria.

Eucalyptus honey is a hearty orange-red color with a slightly spicy aroma. It is a relatively thick honey with a surprisingly simple taste, of honey sweetness with a subtle under and after taste of something herby, not unlike green tea. The taste is clean and stable throughout. Because the taste is not overpowering or complex, I think it would be a good choice for baking or in tea.

I got my Qinta de Jugais eucalyptus honey at TJMAXX (of all places) but I see that on their website you are able to contact the producers so might find sellers in your area by contacting them.

Heather Honey, Portugal

I've never been to Portugal but having read a little about their honey production, I think they are due a visit. Portugal, like many other European countries, produces a lot of varieties of honey. Bee keeping, as one site I viewed claimed, is a 'traditional practice well implanted in several regions.'

Portugal's climate is considered to be Mediterranean, but the geography of the country is diverse with many micro-climate systems. It has plateaus, river valleys, mountains, and rolling plains. On average, though, it is sunny and hot and has the distinction of being the warmest European country.

It seems that honey is produced everywhere, even on the islands off the coast (the Madeira and Azores archipelagos). I would suspect though, since heather is likely to be in the mountains, that my heather honey came from somewhere in the interior of the country. Unfortunately, the label doesn't say.

A quick search online didn't bring up much about my honey. It is distributed by Jugais.com, which seems to distribute a lot of food goods (honeys, teas, vinigrettes, etc.). Of note, though, I did see that there is a lot of research related to Portuguese honey having to do with nutrients, pesticide residues and flavonoids. Yes, there are pesticide residues in honey. No, they aren't at levels that are concerning (in case you were wondering).

The heather honey I have is very dark brown and thick. At room temperature it is mostly liquid but just starting to crystallize around the upper rim of the jar.
I'll say up front that this honey is not for everyone. It is very strong and slightly bitter, with undertones of molasses and something else, something herby in a bitter way. It tastes a little like medicine. It isn't very sweet. It isn't complicated in that it doesn't have many subtle flavors- the flavor stays true from beginning to end with a slightly more bitter after taste, but it is very unusual. If you like robust flavors that are bitter, this is the honey for you. I like it but I wouldn't bake with it or use it in a tea- it would change the flavor too much. I would gladly have it on hot, buttered bread though.

I can't say where you can find this Heather honey from Quinta de Jugais. I got it (of all places) at TJMaxx. I've mentioned before that TJMaxx sometimes has the strangest things- and odd (international) honey is one of them. You just may need to visit Portugal if you want some.