I

ANNO 4 Numero 1
Pietro Arculeo [1], Anna Gloria Sabatini [2]

Thyme honey: a typical Italian production in need of protection


[1]Istituto zooprofilattico sperimentale della Sicilia, Palermo, Italy
[2] CRA - Istituto nazionale di apicoltura, Bologna, Italy


Corresponding author: pietro.arculeo@izssicilia.it


Italy is one of the European countries in which the greatest variety of monofloral honeys is attainable. Among the Italian regions, Sicily has a leading position with many unique characteristic honeys, such as medlar (Mespilus germanica) honey, carob (Ceratonia siliqua) honey, prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) honey, milk-vetch (Astragalus spp.) honey, ironwort (Sideritis syriaca) honey and above all, thyme honey.

Monofloral thyme honey can be produced only from Thymus capitatus, present in Sicily in the area of the Iblean hills, between the provinces of Siracusa and Ragusa. Production of this honey is unfortunately limited and only covers the local market. Furthermore, in the last 5-6 years, a regional subsidy aimed at reconverting uncoltivated land, has caused the uprooting of many wild thyme plants; this phenomenon, together with repeated forest fires and the transformation of the environment, has caused a drastic reduction of the distribution of Thymus capitatus plants and a consequent decrease of thyme honey production of about 50%.

Thyme honey should be safeguarded, for as well as representing a source of income for part of the Sicilian beekeepers, it also represents a unique Italian honey, produced from an endemic highly nectariferous botanical species. To restore the original distribution of Thymus capitatus in Sicily, steps must be taken by local and regional authorities to identify areas suitable for the multiplication of the plant, to promote experimental fields, and to encourage any kind of measure that will defend and increase the presence of the plant on the island.