Alessandro Cuna is a beekeeper in the province of Lecce. His honey is called To Meli — "the honey" in Griko. Simply put. An authentic honey that tells the story of the land... one spoonful at a time.
In winter, when the Salento countryside goes dormant, Alessandro plants crops to nourish his bees during times of scarcity. It is entirely artisanal work that isn't visible in the jar, but can be tasted in the honey: healthy Italian bees, absolutely raw honey.
The Salento Wildflower honey is raw, unpasteurized, and unfiltered. Cold-extracted. Enzymes, pollen, and aromas remain intact, just as they are in the honeycomb. No blending with external honey: only the limited harvest from his own hives. It undergoes no thermal processing.
Crystallization over time is natural. It is the sign of a real, untreated honey. To make it fluid again, simply place it in a warm water bath.
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
- Producer: Alessandro Cuna, Apulian beekeeper
- Registered with the Federazione Apicoltori Italiani: FAI quality seal on the lid
- Variety: Salento Wildflower (also available in Thyme and Linden)
- Processing: cold-extracted, unpasteurized, unfiltered, without thermal treatment
- Net weight: 1 kg, glass jar
- Gluten-free
- Storage: cool, dry place
- Origin: Salento, Apulia, Italy
- SHELF LIFE: 2 years from packaging
HOW TO USE
By the spoonful, on breakfast bread. Dissolved in warm water or herbal teas. In the kitchen, for glazing roasted vegetables. And with Apulian caciocavallo: the pairing of aged cheese and raw honey is a classic of Salento tables.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the difference between raw honey and regular honey?
Industrial honey is pasteurized and microfiltered: heat kills the enzymes, and filtration removes the pollen. Raw honey skips both steps. What you find in the jar is exactly what was in the honeycomb.
Why is the honey crystallized?
Crystallization is the natural behavior of unpasteurized honey. It is not a defect; it is proof of authenticity. A warm water bath will make it fluid again without damaging it.
What does the seal on the lid mean?
It is the quality seal of the Federazione Apicoltori Italiani (FAI), with which Alessandro is registered. It certifies the origin and traceability of Italian honey.
What does Salento Wildflower honey taste like?
It depends on the year's blooms: the Mediterranean scrub of Salento yields an amber-colored, floral honey that is never monotonous. Every harvest is slightly different. That is the nature of wildflower honey.
