Honey from Brač: A regional delicacy
Croatia has a lot to offer when it comes to food. This is partly thanks to the many high-quality ingredients produced right here in the country. One particular delicacy among them is honey from Brač. But what makes it so special? What types of honey are available on Brač? And what’s the best way to enjoy them?
18 August 2025
Why does honey from Brač taste so good?
Thanks to its location on the Dalmatian coast of the Adriatic, the island is ideally suited to producing aromatic honey. This is because all the right factors come together here: whilst there are extensive karst landscapes, there are at least as many pine forests and large areas of wild herbs. Because the Mediterranean climate, with its almost constant sunshine, salty sea air and rare rainfall, causes plants to produce particularly concentrated, aromatic nectar, the blossoms of sage, rosemary, thyme, lavender, acacia and lemon trees form a lavishly laid festive table for the hard-working bee colonies. This high-quality nectar produces honey with an intense flavour.
What types of honey come from Brač?
It is also the climate that defines the flowering periods of individual plants quite clearly. This results in single-flower honeys, which are particularly popular not only as a spread. One that is highly prized by the local population is sage honey (Kaduljin med). It is light in colour, aromatic, full-bodied, not too sweet and slightly spicy. Throughout the country, it is known and loved as a natural remedy for colds, often taken in hot water or in tea.
Rosemary honey (Ružmarinov med) is light, mild and slightly floral. It goes well with cheese, meat and salads, as well as in marinades. Lavender honey (Lavandinov med) is floral and sweet, often with herbal notes. Try it in yoghurt or salad dressings, for example! Of course, mixed blossom honey (Cvjetni med) is also available . It is the all-rounder among the different types of honey.
Traditional crafts
People have been keeping bees on Brač since ancient times. There is evidence that Roman and Greek settlers used honey as a sweetener and in medicine. Even back then, it was known that this golden-yellow substance was beneficial to the body. Today we know that it is the antioxidants and enzymes that have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties , making honey an effective home remedy.
Many farmers still keep bees as a sideline; these are often family-run businesses with between 20 and 100 hives. To ensure that the pollen and enzymes are retained, the honey is cold-spun. As this requires care and patience, cold-spun honey is often more expensive – but in return, you benefit from all its health-promoting nutrients. If 70 per cent of the honey comes from sage flowers and it has been harvested in Dalmatia, it is permitted to bear the designation Dalmatinski kaduljin med (Dalmatian sage honey). This is a Protected Geographical Indication, signifying the honey’s exceptional quality. Take a jar of delicious honey home from Brač as a souvenir and enjoy a little taste of your holiday back at home!
Tip!
Our popular Gelateria Rosa offers more than just delicious ice cream. Our world-class pâtissier, Luka Pavić, conjures up legendary hazelnut balls, exquisite mille-feuilles and the fluffiest croissants you’ll ever taste. Croatian honey also features regularly in his creations. Treat yourself!
