This honey stands out for its intense, spicy aroma and rich, full flavor, which combines sweet and slightly bitter notes. Its color is usually pale gold to deep amber, depending on the production conditions. Its composition is dense, while its crystallization occurs at a slow rate, maintaining its fluidity for a long time.
The thyme honey of Ios is famous for its nutritional and antioxidant properties, but also for its high content of trace elements and vitamins, even strengthening the immune system. It is widely used in cooking and confectionery, enhancing traditional and modern flavors with its unique quality and aroma.
Bees are attracted to the nectar and pollen of heather, producing heather honey of Ios, also known as "reikomelo" or "chondromelo", an excellent and rare product.
Reikomelo during its extraction from the combs has a dark copper or red-amber color, a rich taste, less sweet compared to other types of honey, and has slightly bitter notes. Its texture is creamy and relatively thick, and it crystallizes quickly, resulting in the crystals that form giving it a buttery texture and golden color, with the locals calling it "honey butter."
Reikomelo is particularly rich in nutrients, vitamins and natural enzymes, and is considered extremely beneficial for health, with properties that strengthen the immune system and improve energy and endurance. It is often used to stimulate the body and improve digestion, while it is a popular ingredient in traditional recipes of Ios and wider Greek cuisine.
