{"product_id":"raw-greek-oak-honey-5kg-active-30","title":"Raw Greek Organic Oak Honey Active 30+ - 5kg","description":"\u003ch1\u003eRaw Greek Organic Oak Honey Active 30+ – from Mount Othrys, Greece, 5kg\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith some Sidr and very noticeable molasses\/treacle flavour\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBack Story\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBack on a June day, Asterios (our man on the ground in Greece) took me to a rendezvous spot in a sleepy Greek village. There we met Giorgos, the beekeeper—a quiet, understated guy who proudly showed me his organic allotment. Then we jumped in his 4x4 and headed towards Mount Othrys.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSoon we left the metalled roads and continued on a rough mountain track. On either side were meadows and scrubland, until at around 1,000 metres the landscape changed—there were great oak trees, some so wide it would take two people to reach around the trunk. The trees looked ancient, rooted deep in fertile soil.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs we stood there, Giorgos pointed to an acorn cluster, with golden sap weeping from it. “This,” he said, “is where the bees collect the honey.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGeologists say Mount Othrys is formed from ancient oceanic crust and volcanic flows, which may explain the mineral-rich soils. The area is also largely protected under Natura 2000, safeguarding its wildlife and habitats.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis combination of unspoilt woodland, altitude and rich soils may explain the honey’s distinctive flavour—and the high antimicrobial test score of 30+.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSummary\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis \u003cstrong\u003eRaw Greek Organic Oak Honey Active 30+\u003c\/strong\u003e comes from the hives of artisan beekeeper Giorgos, located high on Mount Othrys in central Greece. It is produced from honeydew and some Sidr nectar collected by bees foraging amongst the mountain’s large, old oak trees. The honey is \u003cstrong\u003e100% raw, coarse-filtered, unpasteurised and cold-pressed\u003c\/strong\u003e, and scored \u003cstrong\u003e30+\u003c\/strong\u003e in a Total Activity test, indicating strong antimicrobial properties.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eProduct Highlights\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eActive 30+ (Total Activity Test)\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e100% Raw\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCold-pressed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnpasteurised\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCoarse filtered\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMolasses\/treacle notes with a long tail\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSilver – 2023 Mediterranean Taste Awards\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrom Mount Othrys oak sap and some sidr, central Greece\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMineral-rich volcanic soil and protected woodland\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWilderness honey from artisan beekeeper Giorgos\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCoarse-filtered\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAroma\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEarthy and fruity with oak woodland notes, dried fruit and a touch of resin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFlavour\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRobust and full-bodied, with a lot of molasses, malt, and stewed summer fruits. A savoury character with a mineral finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eColour\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery dark—almost black—with amber highlights. Glossy and dense. Naturally runny due to its low glucose content; slow to crystallise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigin\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCollected by bees mainly from acorn honeydew in the oak forests on Mount Othrys, central Greece. The area is part of the Natura 2000 protected network and features mineral-rich volcanic soils.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCommon Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStir into lemon and ginger tea for a throat-soothing drink\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePair with blue cheese or aged cheddar on a cheeseboard\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDrizzle over grilled figs or roast vegetables for a savoury-sweet glaze\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMix into yoghurt with walnuts for a Greek-style breakfast\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUse in natural remedies for coughs or dry throats\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eApply a thin layer to minor skin irritations as a soothing balm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTake a spoonful daily during colder months as a tonic\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eProducer Story\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGiorgos is a small-scale, traditional beekeeper in central Greece. His hives are located high on Mount Othrys in ancient oak woodland. Giorgos uses sustainable, non-invasive techniques to protect his bees and preserve the qualities of their honey. He harvests by hand and never heats or blends his batches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🧪 What does “Active” mean?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe send some honeys to a lab for a \"Total Activity test\". This test measures a honey's antimicrobial activity using a solution on a lab plate against Staph Aureus bacteria. The honey is graded between 10 and 25+. This test is similar to that used for Manuka Honey. The main activity comes from a bee enzyme that produces hydrogen peroxide. Note that the Activity Level is highest at testing and decreases over time—faster with light and heat. Store in a dark, cool place to slow this.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🧊 How to store your honey\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo preserve its natural potency, store the honey in a cool, dark place. Light and heat degrade the enzymes that contribute to antibacterial activity. Keeping it away from light and high temps helps maintain its flavour, texture, and active properties.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🍯 Why Raw Honey is Different from Processed Honey\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRaw honey comes from the hive to the jar with minimal interference. Most supermarket honey is processed to look attractive—drained of pollen, heated, and blended. Raw honey varies from batch to batch because it’s not factory-processed or heated. It changes with season, climate, and bee forage. We update this fact sheet based on the current batch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🌀 Crystallisation\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRaw honey crystallises naturally (so we cannot accept returns on crystallised honey). We indicate on the site whether the honey is runny or crystallised, but this may change. If you want runny honey and it has crystallised, it's easy to return it to runny. Check our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ahoju59qfpY\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRunny Honey Guide\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Honey#Phase_transitions\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eread more on crystallisation\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🏪 About Us\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt The Raw Honey Shop, we believe honey should be RAW, unpasteurised, and 100% natural. Since 2008, we've introduced customers to pure, all-natural honey. Our catalogue includes over 30 raw and organic varieties. Thank you for visiting. We look forward to sharing a world of raw, pure, and truly wonderful honey—the way the bees intended it!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e📸 Representative Photo Disclaimer\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"color: red;\"\u003eProduct photo is representative. The colour and texture of raw honey may vary by season and crystallisation level. Please check the product title and description for accurate contents.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Giorgos D","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43627699011819,"sku":"AS18\/5kg","price":170.96,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0175\/0288\/files\/OakAS185kg.png?v=1773834375","url":"https:\/\/www.therawhoneyshop.com\/en-je\/products\/raw-greek-oak-honey-5kg-active-30","provider":"The Raw Honey Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}