These small granules of bee pollen are concentrated pockets of complex flavors where honeyed sweetness, matcha-like bitterness and slight acidity come together. Their chalky texture quickly melts in your mouth with a clean finish, making them easy to eat by the spoonful.
Beekeeper Giorgio Poeta collects pollen from hives that have been placed high in the Apennine Mountains, a range that stretches from the Ligurian Alps to Reggio di Calabria. In these Apennine meadows, the bees forage for nectar among various wildflowers (millefiori literally translates to one thousand flowers), imparting layered and nuanced flavors to the pollen.
To maintain the hive’s health, only a small amount of pollen can be harvested, about 10% of their total production. Poeta takes great care to ensure that no bees are harmed while their pollen is collected with specially designed traps that sit at the entrance of the hive. Once harvested, the pollen is slowly dehydrated to preserve its aroma, flavor and nutrients.
How to use
Poeta recommends taking his Organic Wildflower Bee Pollen by the spoonful for a quick energy boost, or adding it to smoothies, yogurt or oatmeal. In addition to its health benefits, bee pollen is also a versatile ingredient, lending a unique flavor and texture to all kinds of food. Try it sprinkled over pizzas topped with soft cheeses like ricotta or burrata, or as a garnish for roasted vegetables and grilled meats.
About the producer
Giorgio Poeta discovered his passion for beekeeping as a teen. The son of two farmers, he earned multiple degrees in agriculture before starting to produce honey in the Italian region of the Marche in 2004. First and foremost, Poeta sees himself not as a honey producer, but as a steward of the land focused on the health and well-being of the bees and their surrounding habitat. Poeta practices what’s referred to as nomadic beekeeping, an approach where hives are constantly moving to various flower-rich environments far from pesticides and intensive farming. This unique method provides the bees with an ever-changing selection of flowers and consequently, a diverse variety of honeys with distinct terroir-driven flavors.
