Artisan Greek Mountain Honey – Raw & Organic from Oak, Chestnut, Fir & Mountain Herbs

Back story: Earlier this year, I received a sample of honey from a beekeeper named Vasilis who keeps his hives high up on Mount Helidona in the Evrytania region of central Greece. Just one spoonful told me this honey was something special — a powerful contender to match (or even surpass) the beloved Mountain Honey we once had from David in Galicia, Spain (who sadly passed away).

So in March, I travelled to Greece to meet Vasilis and see the source of this honey for myself. What I found was extraordinary — a wild, remote environment recognised by UNESCO for its purity. This is beekeeping at its most raw and authentic, in one of the cleanest ecosystems in Europe. Vasilis' bees feed on untouched oak, chestnut, mountain herbs and some fir, creating a bold, complex honey infused with the essence of the mountain.

Summary

A rich, raw organic mountain honey from the high slopes of Mount Helidona in central Greece — one of the cleanest ecosystems in Europe. Created by the bees of beekeeper Vasilis, whose hives sit between 1,000 and 1,500 metres, this deep forest honey is made primarily from oak and chestnut, with wild herbs and a touch of fir. Notably fruitier than most honeydew honeys, it offers a bold flavour with stewed blackberry-like notes and caramelised depth. Unpasteurised, coarse-filtered, and cold-extracted to preserve its full natural character.

Product Highlights

• Mainly from oak and chestnut, with wild herbs and some fir
• Sourced from a region recognised by UNESCO for purity
• Richer and fruitier than most honeydew honeys
• Produced high in the region known as the Greek Alps
• 100% Raw – never pasteurised
• Cold-extracted and unblended
• Coarse-filtered to retain pollen and enzymes

Aroma

An intense, complex aroma that opens with dark forest notes — earthy and slightly smoky — followed by hints of liquorice, burnt caramel, and a subtle touch of spice. It evokes the scent of tree bark warmed by sun and resin, deepened by herbal undertones.

Flavour

Richer and fruitier than most honeydew honeys. The dominant flavours are bold and dark: deep stewed summer forest fruits, molasses, and caramelised sugar, underpinned by the earthiness of oak and tannins of chestnut. To me it evokes the thick, caramelised jam that clings to the edges of a blackberry crumble dish — dark, sticky, and fruity. A gently spicy warmth lingers on the finish, making it one of the most flavourful and fruit-forward honeys of its kind.

Colour

A dark amber hue with reddish tones. Dark and runny, though it may begin to crystallise over time.

Origin

This honey is gathered by bees high on Mount Helidona in the Evrytania region of Central Greece — often called the "Greek Alps" due to the areas rugged beauty and remote wilderness. The hives are positioned between 1,000 and 1,500 metres, depending on the season and forage — lower for oak and chestnut, higher for fir.

The area is one of Europe’s most untouched ecosystems. In 1991, UNESCO officially recognised it for its exceptional natural purity, minimal pollution, and unspoiled biodiversity — ideal for healthy bees and truly wild honey. Here, the bees feed mainly on wild oak and chestnut, along with mountain herbs and some fir, creating a honey with great depth and a distinct forest character.

Beekeeper Vasilis never moves his bees to the lowlands. They remain in these pristine highlands, feeding only on local flora. The result is a deeply complex honey that captures the wild essence of its environment — rich, bold, and authentic.

Suggested Uses

• Swirl into whipped goat's cheese and serve with roasted beetroot
• Fold into Greek yoghurt and top with toasted walnuts and orange zest
  
• Drizzle over rye bread with tahini and figs for a rich, earthy snack
• Pair with sharp cheeses like pecorino or blue cheese
• Stir into dark rum or bourbon cocktails for a forest-sweet twist
• Spoon over vanilla ice cream with a pinch of sea salt

👤 Producer Story

Vasilis began beekeeping with three hives in 2010 and turned his passion into a full-time pursuit in 2016. Now fully self-sufficient, he manages everything himself — from harvesting to bottling. His bees are never moved to lowlands and forage only on wild, pesticide-free flora high in the mountains. His hives are located in one of the cleanest environments in Europe — an area that UNESCO documented in 1991 for its exceptional purity.

🧊 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 temps helps maintain its flavour, texture, and active properties.

🍯 Why Raw Honey is Different from Processed Honey

Raw 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.

🌀 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.