The incredible sweet heritage of Türkiye
Nectary plants and the honeybees co-evolved millions of years ago. That is, honey was ready for hunting far before even the first human footprint in Anatolian peninsula.
Besides the interactions between nectary plants and the honey bees; the resulting honey bee life is completely amazing.
Honey bees collect sweet secretions of plants, transform into honey and store as their energy source.
This energy source is extremely vital for the winter survival of these beneficial insects.
Human being has not remained indifferent to these rewarding sweet and concentrated high energy honey stocks. It was an important sugar source until arrival of the industrial sugar from sugarcane and sugar beet in AD 800s and in mid AD 1800s, respectively.
Research evidences shows that, the ancient Anatolian civilizations were no exception.
Archaeological cuneiform laws from ancient Hittites strictly describe in detail, the punishments for the thieves of honey bees and beehives.
A modified recipe from "The Last Supper of Phyrgian King Midas" is still being coocked as an everyday dish in Türkiye, common by the name "Güveç".
An interesting use of honey in a war as a poison, with no other example on the world, also took place in these lands.
The beehives that the ancient Cappadocians carved into the rocks still stand out as a monumental sign of the importance of beekeeping, beeswax and honey production for them.
Türkiye has high floral biodiversity comparable to the whole european continent with higher endemism rate.
Furthermore, the geographical and geological forms of Türkiye created specific microclimatic floral regions enabling production of unique honey varieties, available nowhere else.
Honey production, trading, culinary use and daily consumption is still very common in current Türkiye, as is in ancient Anatolian civilizations.
The rich flora of the country had no major change since those periods of the mentioned civilizations.
That is, we produce today the same valuable, historical and delicious honey varieties as what ancient Lycians, Assyrians, Lydians, Hittites, Phyrgians, Cappadocians, Romans, Seljuks and Ottomans had.
In other words, we're still producing and consuming the same delicious honey varieties what the Kings of above mentioned ancient civilizations consumed.
What a sweet heritage!
Taste our sweet cultural heritage with amazing presentation by Yavuz Darendelioğlu.
Enjoy unforgettable tastes on your palate with ancient honey varieties and their interesting stories.
Yavuz Darendelioğlu, Biol. MSc.
Apiculturist, Artisanal Honey Producer
Bee Breeders Association Member, Ankara
Former Senior Expert, TUBITAK
Former Academic Expert, Dept. of Biological Sciences, METU