By Sue Ann Colvin
The flower of the Ulmo tree, a native to the Aracania region, blooms in late summer and early fall producing a unique creamy honey with a delicate perfume.
Photo by Rodrigo Pizarro, FAIF, PUC
Honey has a long history as both a sweetener and a natural curative. It is chock full of B vitamins, known for stress relief and energy, it also contains essential minerals such as Magnesium, Potassium, Calcium, Iron and Phosphate. It is known as an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic for wounds. Mix honey with Olive oil for a lotion to combat dry skin. Honey is also used to heal burns.
Having a hard time with allergies? Try a teaspoon of honey with warm water and lemon. Drink in the morning. I've been starting every morning with a teaspoon full of the Ulmo Tree honey, not only does it satisfy my sweet tooth, but it gives me energy to make it through the day. Unlike sugar which gives a jolt, the energy from honey seems to linger.
Our Chilean Gourmet honeys are collected from the pristine native forests in the Araucania region of Chile and harvested in the traditional manual method learned from the Mapuche ancestors.
The bees first feast on the flowers of the Tiaca trees which bloom in December and January before moving on to Ulmo trees, tempted by their camellia-like flowers (pictured above) until late March.
Once the honey is harvested, it goes through a centrifugal process to separate the honey from the wax. It is then filtered, decanted, and filtered again to remove residual wax and impurities. It is in the next step that Chilean Gourmet honey distinguishes itself from other honeys - a third filtering to ensure 100% purity (residual wax can cause honey to harden). This process imparts a unique texture to the honey. These raw honeys are never heated above 60°C like many industrial honeys, which are pasteurized to ensure consistent liquidity.
Beekeeping is alive and well in this region of Chile. By choosing these and other Zocalo products you support the efforts of these communities to protect their environment and earn a living through sharing their ancient traditions. Learn more about our friends at Chilean Gourmet.
To learn more about our producers visit Zocalo Gourmet.
Home Remedies using Honey.
From Home Remedies-for-you.com
To avoid bed wetting in children, a teaspoon of honey aids water retention, and calms fears in children.
Many people mix honey and ginger for stomach ailments
Honey continues to be an important food in diets worldwide, medicinal uses aside, it is wonderfully sweet and delicious.
Breakfast Polenta Recipe
Try this recipe for brunch, serve with BORGOÑA - Cold red wine with chopped strawberries.From 101 Cookbooks
4 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup coarse polenta (not quick cooking)1/2 cup sliced almonds or Spanish marconas, toasted
1/2 cup dried fruit, chopped
honey
cream
Bring the water to a boil. Stir in the salt and polenta. Stir and stir and stir. Reduce the heat (you might want to wear an apron as the polenta has a tendency to spurt and spit). Simmer for at least 30-35 minutes, if the polenta gets too thick and starts to dry out along the way, just stir in more water 1/4 cup at a time. You can cook the polenta for much longer if you like (again, great for a brunch scenario), just keep stirring in splashes of water as needed. In the end I like my breakfast polenta to be on the loose side, thick enough to coat a spoon, but loose enough that it has trouble holding shape. Serve warm in bowls topped with almonds, dried fruit, a drizzle of honey and cream (or other toppings).
Serves about 4
Sue Ann's Bunny Hop Juice drink2 carrots
4 oranges
1 banana
1 -2 tbs Chilean Gourmet Honey
Use a juicer for the carrots and oranges (peel first). Mix juice with honey and banana in a blender, whip.
This is a great morning drink, kids love it too!
serves 2
















