New from Antonio – Raw Organic Holm Oak Honey from Salamanca – Dark, Smoky, Resinous & Treacly
A striking new honey for Antonio’s range. Also known as Mediterranean Oak, Holm Oak is an evergreen oak characteristic of the landscapes of central and southern Spain. This 100% raw, certified organic Holm Oak honeydew honey comes from Salamanca in western Spain.
Unlike blossom honey, it is not made primarily from floral nectar. The honeydew originates from the sap of the Holm Oak trees, which the bees gather and transform into this exceptionally dark, full-bodied honey.
It has a smoky, spicy and distinctly resinous aroma with a balsamic edge, while the flavour is deep and complex, with rich treacle, malt and woody notes. Less overtly sweet than many blossom honeys, it has a long, lingering finish and a character all of its own.
This is the first Holm Oak honey we have offered under Antonio’s range.
Product Highlights
- Coarse-filtered
- 100% Raw
- Cold-pressed
- Certified organic
- Unpasteurised
- Produced in the Salamanca region of western Spain
- A true Holm Oak honeydew honey, derived from the sap of the Holm Oak
- Very dark amber to almost black in appearance
- Smoky, spicy and distinctly resinous aroma
- Rich treacle, malt and woody flavour
- Less overtly sweet than many blossom honeys
- Deep, complex and long-lasting finish
Aroma
A smoky, spicy aroma with a distinctly resinous, balsamic edge, underpinned by warm woody notes. Deep and aromatic, with the rich forest character typical of a dark Holm Oak honeydew.
Flavour
Dark, full-bodied and complex, with a distinct treacle-like richness at its centre. The flavour develops through malty, woody and balsamic notes, with a gently smoky edge and subtle savoury depth.
Less overtly sweet than many blossom honeys, it has a long, intense finish that makes it particularly appealing to those who enjoy darker, more powerful honeys.
How Does Holm Oak Differ from European Oak (Antonio's Other Oak)?
Both are dark, complex honeydew honeys, but their character is noticeably different.
Antonio's European Oak is predominantly earthy, malty and woody, with a gentle fruitiness and subtle smoky, balsamic notes. This Holm Oak is more aromatic: the nose is distinctly smoky, spicy and resinous with a balsamic edge, while the flavour has a deeper treacle richness.
There is still the characteristic less-sweet, full-bodied quality of an oak honeydew, but the Holm Oak has a warmer, more resinous and intensely aromatic character.
Colour
Very dark amber to deep brown and, in the jar, it can appear almost black. Held against the light, warmer amber or reddish tones may become visible.
As with all raw honey, the precise colour, texture and degree of crystallisation can vary naturally from harvest to harvest.
Origin
Produced in the Salamanca region of Castilla y León in western Spain, this is a true Holm Oak honeydew honey.
Holm Oak (Quercus ilex), also known as Mediterranean Oak, is an evergreen oak characteristic of much of central and southern Spain. In Salamanca, these trees form an important part of the traditional landscape.
Unlike blossom honey, this honey is not made primarily from floral nectar. The honeydew originates from the sap of the Holm Oak trees, which the bees gather and transform into honey.
This produces a very different style of honey from a typical blossom honey: exceptionally dark, concentrated and full-bodied, with restrained sweetness and pronounced malty, woody, resinous and balsamic notes.
Producer Story
Antonio is a fourth-generation beekeeper and a pioneer of organic beekeeping in Spain. His hives are mainly in the Sierra de Guadarrama Biosphere Reserve north of Madrid, with some in Portugal. Working with his son Dani and son-in-law Ruben, he produces certified organic raw honeys and teaches beekeeping. He is sought worldwide for his ethical, organic practices.
For this particular harvest, the hives have been placed in the Holm Oak country of Salamanca in western Spain. It is the first Holm Oak honey we have offered under Antonio’s range, with a distinctly dark, malty and complex character typical of this remarkable honeydew honey.
Common Uses
- Cheese: Excellent with mature Manchego, aged Cheddar, blue cheese and other strongly flavoured cheeses.
- Breakfast: Drizzle over natural yoghurt, porridge or toasted sourdough.
- Savoury dishes: Its restrained sweetness works particularly well in dressings, marinades and sauces.
- Meat glazes: Pair with pork, duck, lamb or roasted vegetables.
- Baking: Adds depth to ginger cakes, fruit cakes, flapjacks and dark chocolate desserts.
- Drinks: Stir into coffee or use sparingly in robust herbal teas.
- Tasting: Try it straight from the spoon to appreciate how different a dark honeydew honey can be from a conventional blossom honey.
🧊 How to store your honey
To 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 temperatures helps maintain its flavour, texture and active properties.
🍯 Why Raw Honey is Different from Processed Honey
Raw honey is different from processed honey because it’s never pasteurised, finely filtered, or blended—so it retains the natural pollen, enzymes, and full spectrum of flavour that processed honey loses.
Processed honey is typically heat-treated, blended and homogenised from many different sources to appear uniform.
In contrast, raw honey is single-origin, coming straight from the hive with minimal handling. Its texture, taste and colour vary with the season and the terroir—shaped by the local climate, soil, the temperament of the bees, the beekeeper’s care, and the flowers and other natural food sources the bees forage on.
Each batch is unique, and we update this description to reflect the current harvest.
🌀 Crystallisation
Raw 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 Runny Honey Guide or read more on crystallisation.
🏪 About Us
At 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!
📸 Representative Photo Disclaimer
Product 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.
* Please Note: We are currently updating our packaging, so you may receive this honey with a slightly different label to the one shown in the product photographs. Rest assured, it is the same delicious raw honey from Antonio’s range, with the same quality, origin and contents inside the jar – only the label design is changing.
Raw Certified Organic Holm Oak Honey Runny
- Regular price
- £30.41
- Sale price
- £30.41
- Regular price
-
Our Returns and Refund Policy
This policy applies to our retail orders only. If you are a trade customer, please contact us directly.
HOW DO I MAKE A RETURN?
If your order arrives and there is a problem then please email us at info@therawhoneyshop.com or call us on 01273 682109. Include your order number if possible and details of the problem. If it is necessary to return the order, the product must be returned to us unopened and in the same condition as when it arrived. So please re-pack it with care using the original packaging or a suitable alternative and we can supply you with a freepost label. If we need to issue a refund, once we have the package back with us, we will issue you a full refund or replacement.
IMPORTANT: If your order has arrived damaged, then please dispose of any broken jars and glass safely and quickly. Please do not attempt to wash or clean the jars as there may be small chips that can cause cuts.
Contact us at info@therawhoneyshop.com and let us know the details, including your order number and if possible, attach pictures. These are helpful for us in terms of improving our processes and for any claims we may make against the carrier.
We will resolve this issue by either sending you a new product straight away or refunding your order in full.
If your order is a large tin or tub weighing over 1kg and arrives damaged:-
Unfortunately, we cannot accept returns on tins or tubs of over 1kg. If your tub or tin arrives slightly damaged and leaking, we are happy to give you a partial refund on the amount of honey you feel has been lost. Unfortunately, we cannot replace whole tins or tubs unless more than 50% of the honey has been lost. We would then request you send us pictures so that we can assess the damage and agree the replacement.
Sale items are sold as per the description and we cannot accept any returns.
We hope that you will never be unhappy with any honey that you buy from us, but if on the rare occasion that this does happen, please do get in touch with us as soon as you can, and we will be happy to find a solution for you.
Our Returns Policy
If there is a problem with your honey - provided no seals have been broken and the product has not been opened (i.e.: it must be in 'new' condition) you can return your honey to us up to 35 days after you have made your order. Excluding sale items which are sold as per the description and cannot be returned.
We will process your refund within 14 days of having received the returned good(s) or proof of having returned the goods (for example, a proof of postage receipt from the post office), You will be refunded for the full cost of the product(s) as well as any original shipping fees paid.
If you are returning part of a larger order, you may only be refunded a portion of any shipping fees paid.
Please note we cannot issue refunds or replacements for honey because it has crystallised.
We indicate on the website the state of each honey - either runny or crystallised but this information is based on the best of our knowledge and the state can change quickly – particularly in the colder months of the year. The crystallisation process is completely natural (even processed honey will crystallise eventually). If we have indicated that the state is runny and it is crystallised when you receive it - this simply means that it has crystallised quicker than we expected, which can happen. It does not indicate that there is a problem with the honey and therefore is not covered by our returns policy.
Please note that refunds on items bought as gifts can only be issued to the original purchaser.
The Raw Honey Shop reserves the right to apply and interpret this extended returns policy as it decides is most appropriate.
Consumer Contracts Regulations
If you have purchased our products online or over the phone, you will be covered by the statutory Consumer Contracts Regulations.
Consumer Contracts Regulations do not apply to perishable items (eg: fresh royal jelly and fresh bee pollen) or goods with a seal for health protection and hygiene reasons that's been broken.
If the item(s) you receive is somehow faulty or otherwise not as described, your right to return your item(s) is covered under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
If you have any questions or need assistance with this, please contact us at info@therawhoneyshop.com or call on +44 (0) 1273 682109.
New from Antonio – Raw Organic Holm Oak Honey from Salamanca – Dark, Smoky, Resinous & Treacly
A striking new honey for Antonio’s range. Also known as Mediterranean Oak, Holm Oak is an evergreen oak characteristic of the landscapes of central and southern Spain. This 100% raw, certified organic Holm Oak honeydew honey comes from Salamanca in western Spain.
Unlike blossom honey, it is not made primarily from floral nectar. The honeydew originates from the sap of the Holm Oak trees, which the bees gather and transform into this exceptionally dark, full-bodied honey.
It has a smoky, spicy and distinctly resinous aroma with a balsamic edge, while the flavour is deep and complex, with rich treacle, malt and woody notes. Less overtly sweet than many blossom honeys, it has a long, lingering finish and a character all of its own.
This is the first Holm Oak honey we have offered under Antonio’s range.
Product Highlights
- Coarse-filtered
- 100% Raw
- Cold-pressed
- Certified organic
- Unpasteurised
- Produced in the Salamanca region of western Spain
- A true Holm Oak honeydew honey, derived from the sap of the Holm Oak
- Very dark amber to almost black in appearance
- Smoky, spicy and distinctly resinous aroma
- Rich treacle, malt and woody flavour
- Less overtly sweet than many blossom honeys
- Deep, complex and long-lasting finish
Aroma
A smoky, spicy aroma with a distinctly resinous, balsamic edge, underpinned by warm woody notes. Deep and aromatic, with the rich forest character typical of a dark Holm Oak honeydew.
Flavour
Dark, full-bodied and complex, with a distinct treacle-like richness at its centre. The flavour develops through malty, woody and balsamic notes, with a gently smoky edge and subtle savoury depth.
Less overtly sweet than many blossom honeys, it has a long, intense finish that makes it particularly appealing to those who enjoy darker, more powerful honeys.
How Does Holm Oak Differ from European Oak (Antonio's Other Oak)?
Both are dark, complex honeydew honeys, but their character is noticeably different.
Antonio's European Oak is predominantly earthy, malty and woody, with a gentle fruitiness and subtle smoky, balsamic notes. This Holm Oak is more aromatic: the nose is distinctly smoky, spicy and resinous with a balsamic edge, while the flavour has a deeper treacle richness.
There is still the characteristic less-sweet, full-bodied quality of an oak honeydew, but the Holm Oak has a warmer, more resinous and intensely aromatic character.
Colour
Very dark amber to deep brown and, in the jar, it can appear almost black. Held against the light, warmer amber or reddish tones may become visible.
As with all raw honey, the precise colour, texture and degree of crystallisation can vary naturally from harvest to harvest.
Origin
Produced in the Salamanca region of Castilla y León in western Spain, this is a true Holm Oak honeydew honey.
Holm Oak (Quercus ilex), also known as Mediterranean Oak, is an evergreen oak characteristic of much of central and southern Spain. In Salamanca, these trees form an important part of the traditional landscape.
Unlike blossom honey, this honey is not made primarily from floral nectar. The honeydew originates from the sap of the Holm Oak trees, which the bees gather and transform into honey.
This produces a very different style of honey from a typical blossom honey: exceptionally dark, concentrated and full-bodied, with restrained sweetness and pronounced malty, woody, resinous and balsamic notes.
Producer Story
Antonio is a fourth-generation beekeeper and a pioneer of organic beekeeping in Spain. His hives are mainly in the Sierra de Guadarrama Biosphere Reserve north of Madrid, with some in Portugal. Working with his son Dani and son-in-law Ruben, he produces certified organic raw honeys and teaches beekeeping. He is sought worldwide for his ethical, organic practices.
For this particular harvest, the hives have been placed in the Holm Oak country of Salamanca in western Spain. It is the first Holm Oak honey we have offered under Antonio’s range, with a distinctly dark, malty and complex character typical of this remarkable honeydew honey.
Common Uses
- Cheese: Excellent with mature Manchego, aged Cheddar, blue cheese and other strongly flavoured cheeses.
- Breakfast: Drizzle over natural yoghurt, porridge or toasted sourdough.
- Savoury dishes: Its restrained sweetness works particularly well in dressings, marinades and sauces.
- Meat glazes: Pair with pork, duck, lamb or roasted vegetables.
- Baking: Adds depth to ginger cakes, fruit cakes, flapjacks and dark chocolate desserts.
- Drinks: Stir into coffee or use sparingly in robust herbal teas.
- Tasting: Try it straight from the spoon to appreciate how different a dark honeydew honey can be from a conventional blossom honey.
🧊 How to store your honey
To 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 temperatures helps maintain its flavour, texture and active properties.
🍯 Why Raw Honey is Different from Processed Honey
Raw honey is different from processed honey because it’s never pasteurised, finely filtered, or blended—so it retains the natural pollen, enzymes, and full spectrum of flavour that processed honey loses.
Processed honey is typically heat-treated, blended and homogenised from many different sources to appear uniform.
In contrast, raw honey is single-origin, coming straight from the hive with minimal handling. Its texture, taste and colour vary with the season and the terroir—shaped by the local climate, soil, the temperament of the bees, the beekeeper’s care, and the flowers and other natural food sources the bees forage on.
Each batch is unique, and we update this description to reflect the current harvest.
🌀 Crystallisation
Raw 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 Runny Honey Guide or read more on crystallisation.
🏪 About Us
At 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!
📸 Representative Photo Disclaimer
Product 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.
* Please Note: We are currently updating our packaging, so you may receive this honey with a slightly different label to the one shown in the product photographs. Rest assured, it is the same delicious raw honey from Antonio’s range, with the same quality, origin and contents inside the jar – only the label design is changing.
