Sicilian Black Bees of Nebrodi

Where does he live?

It populated Sicily for millennia and was then abandoned in the 70s when Sicilian beekeepers replaced the wooden ferula hives (the parallelepiped-shaped boxes used as hives) and began to import Ligurian bees from northern Italy. The Sicilian bee risked total extinction in those years, avoided thanks to the studies and research of a Sicilian entomologist, Pietro Genduso, who studied it for years after the classification made by Montagano in 1911.

Buy his honey

Slow Food Presidium

The Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity Onlus was founded by Slow Food International and Slow Food Italy and is the operational body for the protection of food biodiversity.

The foundation has also included the Sicilian black bee in its list, due to its near extinction.

Today there are very few beekeepers of this breed, among them there is Emanumiele with his black bees raised between the Nebrodi mountains and the Aeolian Islands.

Click on the link, you will be directed to the Foundation's website

Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity Onlus

Sicilian black bee products

What makes Sicilian black bees special?

The Sicilian black bee is very docile, so much so that masks are not needed in honey extraction operations, it is very productive - even at high temperatures, over 40° when other bees freeze - and tolerates temperature changes well. These are very important characteristics for production in areas with a very hot climate. The Sicilian black bee also develops brood early, between December and January, thus avoiding the freeze of the winter brood common to other species, and consumes less honey than other bees. The honey of the Sicilian black bee is not different, from an organoleptic point of view, from that produced by bees of other breeds.

Sicilian black bee honey

What are its dimensions?

Size and features!

The Sicilian black bee (Apis mellifera siciliana) has a very dark abdomen and yellowish down and smaller wings.

Morphologically similar to African black bees (but differing in their less aggressiveness)

Do you know what its benefits are?

Useful against cough and sore throat

Warm milk and honey, how many of us have never tried the classic "grandmother's remedy" in case of cough and sore throat? Honey is in fact an excellent cough sedative, as also stated by an Israeli study conducted on 300 children. By taking honey instead of syrups and drugs, they saw a considerable decrease in nighttime cough! Just as it is useful for fighting cough, it is also a great ally in case of sore throat and seasonal winter illnesses. In fact, it has a decongestant action on the upper respiratory tract. For this type of ailment, it is usually preferable to consume more "balsamic" honeys. Such as

Emanumiele's propolis honey

It gives energy and is anti-aging

Its composition based on glucose and fructose allows both rapid absorption for a faster use of sugars and its greater availability even in the face of more intense physical efforts. Honey is a food rich in antioxidants and polyphenols. Generally, the darker the honey, the richer it is in these substances. Its antioxidant action prevents the onset of diseases caused by free radicals and counteracts the aging process.

Fights bacteria and helps repair tissues

In ancient times, honey was used to facilitate the healing of wounds. Many studies have focused on this property of honey. What has emerged is that the use of honey on wounds stimulates tissue regeneration, while preventing inflammation and infections. The ability of honey to reduce infections is linked to its well-known antimicrobial action. The presence of hydrogen peroxide in fact counteracts bacterial proliferation. Many studies have been conducted on this subject to try to fully understand its potential.

Anti-inflammatory and emollient

Honey is also rich in phenol and flavonoid compounds and these are responsible for its anti-inflammatory properties. Not only does it promote tissue regeneration, but it also appears to be a stimulant for our immune system! For all these beneficial properties, honey has an incredibly beneficial effect on our skin, especially in the case of acne and pimples.

Helps the stomach and intestines

Honey also seems to be very useful in case of gastrointestinal infections. Precisely because of its anti-inflammatory properties and its promotion of tissue regeneration, it can have positive effects on the health of our stomach. Among the many properties of honey, we can also remember its adjuvant action in case of constipation. Its strong concentration of fructose, in fact, has a mild laxative power as it stimulates the flow of liquids in the intestinal tract.

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