Alpine Rose Honey

Organic Alpine Rose Honey from Austria – delicate & floral from the Zirbitzkogel

The organic Alpine rose honey from the Neber organic apiary is a rarity – Alpine roses only grow above 1,500 meters. Champagne-colored, floral and fruity, with a subtle hint of citrus. A single-varietal organic honey from Austria, without additives or flavorings.

Organic Alpine rose honey is a light, sweet, and fruity varietal honey made from the nectar of the Alpine rose, which the Neber organic apiary harvests in June at the high-alpine altitudes around the Zirbitzkogel in Styria. Master beekeeper Anton Neber, who has held his title since 2002, brings his Carniolan honey bee colonies to an altitude of over 1,500 meters, where the Alpine rose paints the mountain meadows with its bright red blossoms. What arrives in the 250-gram jar is a rare organic honey from Austria – single-varietal, natural, and free from any other ingredients.

Champagne-colored, floral, fruity

In the jar, the Alpine rose honey shows a delicate champagne hue, almost straw-yellow; on the palate, it unfolds a finely floral aroma with fruity notes reminiscent of ripe citrus fruits. You can recognize it by its light color and its soft, slightly creamy consistency.

Alpine rose honey is one of the rarest blossom honeys in Austria because the Alpine rose only blooms for three to four weeks in June and its growth zone is limited to high altitudes above the treeline. To harvest it, Anton Neber migrates with his bee colonies to the alpine slopes of the Zirbitzkogel – the summer does not provide a rich yield every year, which makes every jar a little treasure.

Alpine rose honey – sweet & rare

On a slice of good sourdough bread with butter, Alpine rose honey is right at home – that’s all you need. In tea, it releases the fine floral fruitiness of the Alpine rose, as it does in yogurt with fresh berries in the morning. A dollop on soft cream cheese with a few walnuts on top brings out the hint of citrus.

On vanilla ice cream, in quark, or as a sweetener in salad dressing with apple cider vinegar and lemon, the fruity blossom note adds freshness. For your cup of breakfast tea or coffee, a teaspoon is sufficient, dissolved in water below 40 degrees Celsius to preserve the delicate aromas.

Three generations of beekeeping from Upper Styria

Behind the Neber organic apiary are Anton and Gerlinde Neber, a third-generation family apiary from Sankt Lorenzen im Mürztal in Upper Styria. Anton passed his master beekeeper exam at the Styrian beekeeping school in 2002 and has worked ever since with the native Carniolan bee, a bee breed that has been adapted to the Alpine region for centuries. Gerlinde manages the partnership (GbR) and handles sales in the "Honig-GENUSS-keller" (Honey Enjoyment Cellar).

The Alpine rose harvest requires a long ascent into the alpine altitudes – a particularly demanding migration, as Anton describes the harvest calendar during discussions about the product range. Since 2007, the honey has been gently extracted in the on-site "Honig-GENUSS-keller," never heated, and bottled by hand in small batches. Beehives consist of untreated wood and metal. In the Neber organic apiary range, you will find other single-varietal organic honeys from Austria.

In a small bowl on the cheese board

Stored cool and dark at 10 to 18 degrees, it finds its place in the cupboard. Should it crystallize, place the closed jar in a 40-degree warm water bath for five to ten minutes – no hotter, otherwise aromas will be lost. Serve it in a small bowl on the cheese board so your guests can take as much as they like. A small tasting session with three organic honey varieties side-by-side most impressively demonstrates how differently honey from Austria can taste.

Organic inspection body AT-BIO-301 Austrian Agriculture