The honey of the Marche: through varieties and production areas.
4 minutes
Honey has been used in the Marche region since ancient times to sweeten foods and drinks. The rolling hills, cultivated with forage legumes such as sulla, alfalfa, and sainfoin, provide bees with abundant sources of nectar.
Honeys from the Marche are renowned for their quality and variety, thanks to the region’s rich biodiversity and diverse flora. Beekeeping in this fertile area has long produced both multifloral and monofloral honeys with distinctive character.
From millefiori, the most widespread, to acacia, sunflower and chestnut honey, this journey in search of the “nectar of the gods” takes you all the way to the lesser-known honeys of alfalfa and sticky betony, both typical of the Marche.
Honey from the Marche is increasingly being recognised and promoted through initiatives like the Macerata Honey Route, where visitors can enjoy a true sensory experience and explore different honey-making traditions. The region’s four beekeeping consortia have also joined forces to protect and promote Marche honey, which has become a symbol of sustainability and excellence, particularly through the “Marche di Miele” project.
Honeys of the Marche: capturing the region’s essence
Every variety of honey reflects the rich biodiversity found across Italy. A Marche acacia honey may be similar to one from another region, but it will never be quite the same: the colour shifts slightly, the taste reveals different nuances, even the aroma changes in subtle ways.
Much of honey’s charm lies in the landscape that produces it. The local character seeps into every jar. Among the most widespread and appreciated honeys in the Marche is millefiori, which captures the essence of many nectar-rich plants, each one varying according to area and harvest time. Acacia honey, slow to crystallise and known for its smooth, creamy texture, is considered one of the finest, prized for its delicate fragrance and exceptional quality. Another valuable variety is sunflower honey, rich in nutrients, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, with a light floral aroma and fluid texture. In the Marche, even autumn has its honey: chestnut honey, known for its antioxidant and antimicrobial qualities, is harvested during the flowering of the chestnut trees and stands out for its dark amber colour and thick consistency. The region also produces two rarer types: alfalfa honey and sticky betony honey. Alfalfa honey is a distinctive and refined product, valued for its delicate flavor and the beneficial qualities of the plant itself. Sticky betony honey, crafted from the tender blossoms of a plant revered since ancient times for its calming, anti-inflammatory, and digestive properties, is born from the encounter between bees and a truly remarkable native species.
Then there is honeydew, a type of honey that does not come from flower nectar but from the secretions of insects such as aphids or scale insects that feed on plant sap. Honeydew honey is known for its high antioxidant and mineral content, and also offers antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits.
The Macerata Honey Route: a journey through nature, history and ancient traditions
From visiting apiaries and the surrounding blooms, to watching the honey extraction process and sampling different varieties to discover their aromas and flavours - all of this awaits in the Province of Macerata, which boasts the highest number of “Città del Miele” in the region. Each one is worth a visit, with its own unique appeal: Camerino, Matelica, Montelupone, Monte Cavallo, Urbisaglia and Valfornace.
Beekeepers from the Macerata area have transformed the harmony of the landscapes, the history preserved in these places, the stories they tell, the scents of the meadows, and the local flavors into a tourist itinerary that offers an authentic apitourism experience. This approach invites visitors to explore the flavours and aromas of different honeys, enjoy tastings paired with local products, and immerse themselves in traditional cuisine enhanced with honey. Take the opportunity to savour this sensory journey, and to experience the sounds and scents of the hive in one of the area’s holistic apiaries.
Discovering the benefits of apitherapy and exploring natural cosmetics made with gifts from the hive are just some of the experiences awaiting you along the Macerata Honey Route.
The Marche di Miele project
Between the sea, the gentle hills, and the mountains of the Marche region, skilled and passionate beekeepers care for their bees with dedication. “Marche di Miele” is an initiative that brings together the four regional beekeeping consortia (Ancona, Ascoli Piceno – Fermo, Macerata, Pesaro Urbino) with the aim of protecting and promoting a product that, more than any other, embodies the Marche’s biodiversity—where beekeeping stands as a symbol of sustainability and excellence.
At the heart of this project are a deep respect for bees and a commitment to their ecological role. The goal is to promote the quality of Marche honey through specific production standards, while also raising awareness of the environmental, agricultural, social and educational importance of beekeeping. Consumers, and in particular young people, are involved through a dedicated programme in schools.
