THE SWEETEST SOUVENIR From Slovenia to New Zealand, honey is creating a buzz worldwide as apitourism soars by
Waheeda Harris
Prized for centuries as a natural sweetener, honey is not only one of the world’s oldest sweet treats, but has become an essential in any chef’s tool kit, using it for everything from making a vinaigrette for salads, balancing the flavors of a sauce or to add a hint of floral to a dessert as each honey has its own flavor profile. Today still, honey, created by bees using local floral nectars, makes for the sweetest of souvenirs, giving a whole new meaning to the expression “a taste of place.” Encouraging honey devotees to explore destinations in pursuit of the natural elixir, apitourism is flourishing in Italy, Greece and Canada, welcoming tourists to tastings on farm tours and the fine art of beekeeping. With a lengthy history of beekeeping, Slovenia has been a strong proponent of apitourism and boasts
the highest percentage of beekeepers per capita in the European Union. As the first country to proclaim May 20 as World Bee Day, it was honoring one of its own on his birthdate — Anton Janša, a noted 18thcentury bee expert and the beekeeping teacher of Habsburg Empress Maria Theresa. Beyond Slovenia, many countries around the planet produce all kinds of types of honey, from kitchen staples to the rarest of elixirs.
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