Gran Canaria is much more than beaches and landscapes; it is also a culinary paradise. Today, on the First Minute Excursions and Last Minute Transfer blog, we’re exploring the delicious honey from Gran Canaria, a local gastronomic treasure.

Discovering Honey from Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria honey is a unique product, known for its high quality and distinctive characteristics. This uniqueness is due to the island’s rich endemic flora and beekeeping practices based on the native Canarian Black Bee. This bee, adapted to the island’s conditions, plays a key role in producing honey with specific characteristics, including unique organoleptic and physical properties that set it apart from other honeys produced in mainland Spain.

Types of Honey on the Island

It is estimated that Gran Canaria hosts around 12,000 hives managed by approximately 300 beekeepers. They produce monofloral honeys (such as tajinaste and orange blossom honey) as well as multifloral honeys, each with its own flavor and aroma derived from the island’s diverse local flora.

Traditionally, honey from Gran Canaria is classified by the altitude of the hives. There is coastal honey from hives located up to 600 meters above sea level, known for varieties like the white-colored barrilla honey with a toffee-like flavor and caustic notes. Other popular varieties include honey with hints of orange, avocado, or prickly pear.

Between 600 and 1,000 meters, midland honey is produced, offering the most variety, with honey featuring predominant notes of tajinaste, tedera, thistle, or relinchón.

Lastly, high-altitude honey is produced above 1,000 meters. Here, multifloral honeys are common, often with predominant notes of broom, eucalyptus, or chestnut.

This diversity, along with the island’s climate, supports limited production that barely meets 30% of local consumption, making Gran Canaria honey a highly valued and sought-after product.

To ensure its authenticity and quality, the Cabildo of Gran Canaria grants the Gran Canaria Quality Guarantee mark to honey produced under sustainable practices.

Additionally, local honeys undergo rigorous quality controls. This ensures that the product retains its natural properties and reflects the unique environment of Gran Canaria. Gran Canaria honey is used not only as a food but also for its medicinal benefits, due to its antioxidant, antibacterial properties, and high mineral content.