Where are we?

In the heart of the Nebrodi Mountains, among the green hills and clean air of Galati Mamertino, the story of Apicoltura Emanumiele was born, its founder Giacomo Emanuele in the 90s decided to dedicate his life to one of the oldest and most fascinating arts: beekeeping. With love for nature and respect for the life cycle of bees, Giacomo created his little corner of paradise, where he produces high quality honey, the result of commitment, patience and deep knowledge of the territory.

For years the Emanumiele Company has collaborated with various
Sicilian Universities and with Slow Food for the protection, safeguard and
diffusion of the Sicilian Black Bee, running pure apiaries on various islands
of the Aeolian Islands and around the highest peaks of the Nebrodi , so much so that a vast area
of the stresses, through a Regional Decree Law and above all thanks
at the Nebrodi Park Authority, it is about to be designated as a protected area for
the pure reproduction of this species at risk of extinction.

A Unique Honey, Linked to the Nebrodi!

The honey produced by Giacomo is unique because it reflects the extraordinary biodiversity of the Nebrodi Mountains. The bees, free to fly among wild flowers, chestnut groves, and pastures, collect nectar from native plants, creating a honey with unmistakable characteristics. Each jar of honey is the result of a natural process, which respects the rhythms of the seasons and nature itself. Giacomo produces different varieties of honey, including chestnut honey, multi-flower honey, and citrus honey, each with its own aroma and beneficial properties.

The Sicilian Black Bee is a Slow Food Presidium

Sicilian Black Bees

Bees are not all yellow and black. The livery that we normally associate with bees is actually typical of the Ligurian bee, the most widespread bee in Italy, so much so that it is also called the Italian bee. There are dark, gray or even very black bees, right in Italy, morphologically similar to African black bees (from which they differ however in their less aggressiveness): which have an African genetic myotype in their DNA. The Sicilian black bee (Apis mellifera siciliana) has a very dark abdomen and yellowish down and its wings are smaller. It populated Sicily for millennia and was then abandoned in the 1970s when Sicilian beekeepers replaced the ferula wood drums (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 by Montagano in 1911. Genduso passed on this passion to a student, Carlo Amodeo, still the only breeder of Sicilian queen bees registered in the national register. The last clumps of Sicilian black bees were found in a baglio in Carini where an old beekeeper produced honey with that ancient system. The clumps contained some families of bees that Carlo Amodeo, after deciding to practice professional beekeeping, kept in isolation on the islands of Vulcano and Filicudi. It 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 the other bees freeze - and tolerates temperature changes well. Very important characteristics for production in areas with a very hot climate. The Sicilian black bee also develops its brood early, between December and January, thus avoiding the block 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.

Our Mission

For Giacomo, beekeeping is not just a production, but a mission. Working closely with bees has taught him the importance of protecting the environment and biodiversity. For this reason, he practices sustainable beekeeping, respectful of the well-being of bees and their delicate balance. Each hive is treated with care, without the use of harmful chemicals, guaranteeing pure and natural honey. Giacomo is also committed to raising awareness in the local community about the importance of bees, offering guided tours of his apiaries and educational workshops for adults and children.

Sustainable beekeeping!

Giacomo looks to the future with confidence. Thanks to his constant commitment and the quality of his honey, his work is already attracting the attention of those who love artisanal and natural products. His dream is to continue to grow, expanding the number of apiaries and increasing the variety of products related to beekeeping, such as pollen and propolis, always keeping intact the ethics that led him to undertake this path.