Sweet, smooth and aromatic, from rosemary or strawberry trees, delicious with pine kernels or walnuts…and so good for you. At Rancho Cortesano they produce some of the best honey in Andalucía and they have just produced a book, published by Tristana, entitled “Con la miel en los labios” (with the taste of honey on your lips).

It is a collection of recipes for main courses, desserts and drinks all made from honey, which the family have collected on their travels and exhibited at the Museum of Honey and Bees which they have in Cuartillos (Jerez).

Some are familiar popular dishes such as “el alfajor de Medina”, “pestiños” or “torrijas”, while others are surprising creations with an original touch of honey such as tuna with honey, dogfish pâté with honeyed carrots and cinnamon, spinach salad with cheese and honey, tropical crêpes or skewered marinated sirloin.

Honey is for lovers of creative modern cuisine as well as for those who prefer traditional cooking. It is a natural product which Andalusia has been exporting since the Middle Ages and companies from all over Spain still come to the province to buy honey and commercialise it.

Manufacturers from the Sierra de Cádiz export great quantities to France, and beekeepers from the province are considered to be amongst the best, consistently coming first in competitions.

For German Gourmets

According to the Andalusian Parliament’s regional Agricultural Office, there are 200 honey producers and six packing and bottling companies in the province of Cádiz. However, Rancho Cortesano, because of its sales, number of employees and visits to the Museum it set up three years ago, has become the province’s leading exporter. 
 
Rancho Cortesano is an ecological honey factory which has the Andalusian Parliament Nature Reserve’s official environmental stamp, and whose products are sold in Gourmet shops in Germany.

This family-run business, with almost 30 years of experience, has 1800 beehives throughout the province, especially in Grazalema and Alcornocales Nature Reserves, and collects between 30,000 and 40,000 kilos of honey every year.

The Sweetest Museum

At Rancho Cortesano you can taste and buy various products. There are many different types of honey to choose from: natural honey from the Alcornocales, a thousand flowers, holm oak, eucalyptus, orange blossom, rosemary. There are also special delicacies such as honey with pine kernels or with walnuts as well as pollen, royal jelly, beeswax and natural soaps.

All these made from the finest quality honey since for five consecutive years Rancho Cortesano won the first prize in the Competition “Mieles de Andalucía” in different categories, and last year it was once again amongst the best.

Their museum which is dedicated to the ancient profession and art of the apiarist or beekeeper is completely free. It is interesting for all ages to enjoy and learn about the history of honey, which apart from its heavenly taste, offers various properties and benefits both as an antiseptic and as a tonic.

Rancho Cortesano also organises guided group tours in Spanish, English and French. It is advisable to phone beforehand for reservations and pric