Beekeeping is crucial to the planet and to the balance of ecosystems.
At Herdade Aldeia de Cima, we manage 10 apiaries and 359 beehives. Whenever conditions are favorable, our beekeepers carefully move the bee colonies to areas of the estate with the richest bee flora, composed of diverse native plant species.
From flower to flower, the bees collect nectar and pollen for their nourishment, pollinating the plants, enhancing agricultural productivity, and contributing to the well-being of communities.
The honey from Herdade Aldeia de Cima, pure and free from any human intervention, is based on the diversity of a typically Mediterranean wild flora, rich in pollen. It is notably marked by the presence of rosemary, which grows wild in the mountains of the Serra do Mendro—an ecosystem untouched by industrial or urban pollution. The warm temperatures of early summer are ideal for extracting honey in its liquid state, so the harvest usually takes place between June and July, at the peak of production. In winter, low temperatures may cause the honey to crystallize, though it never loses its nutritional value—this is, in fact, a sign of its quality.
During spring, flower pollen is collected by the bees, transported to the hive, and gathered in the pollen trap. This pure, granular food has been valued for centuries as an extraordinary dietary supplement, unmatched in nature. Rich in amino acids and biologically sourced vitamin complexes, proteins, lipids, sugars, and mineral salts, it contains most of the elements essential to life on Earth. Flower pollen should be chewed and taken on an empty stomach. It also pairs well with yogurts, fruit or vegetable smoothies, oatmeal, or cereal porridge.