Since 1948, Argyris Georgakas, in Arnaia, Halkidiki, buys his first hives and starts beekeeping as a profession. His love and passion for the bee and its products make him one of the best beekeepers.
In 1985, his son, Dimitris Georgakas, took over the reins, where until today, with the same passion, he is recognized as one of the best and most experienced professional beekeepers in the whole country.
Today, the grandchildren Argyris Georgakas and Ioannis Georgakas, participating with their father in the production process and distribution of their products, make their family business one of the most well-organized beekeeping units.
For the family, the best honey is that produced by bees, harvested and packaged with care and diligence in appropriate facilities. They work every day to collect what the bees create, to be able to offer a very high quality honey.
Chalkidiki Pine Honey "Georgaka" is honey that is the most important category of Greek honey, since more than 60% of its total annual production comes from pine trees. It belongs to the category of honeydew honey and its production requires the presence of the Marchalina hellenica (cotton bug) insect.
It is not too sweet, leaving a wonderful taste and moderately intense aroma while the color varies according to the season of production. In spring it is lighter and in autumn darker.
In terms of its crystallization. it is difficult to crystallize due to its low content of sugars and especially glucose.
NUTRITIONAL COMPONENTS OF PINE HONEY
Pine honey has many antioxidants thus protecting our cells from free radical damage. It is also antimicrobial and acts as a shield of our body from pathogenic organisms. Furthermore, research is studying its effective treatment anemia and his diabetes due to the consumption of honeys that have a dark color. Finally, Greek pine honey has a high content of trace elements such as calcium and magnesium, classifying it into a product with high nutritional value.
HISTORY "FROM GOLD" BEHIND THE PRODUCT
In Ancient Greece, love for honey has been captured with passion and emotion. Hippocrates, the father of Medicine, praises the beneficial effect of "wine honey" on the human body. Pythagoras finds with surprise that honey makes us feel less tired , while Democritus writes about longevity excluding miraculous honey!
As far as Cretan beekeeping is concerned, Crete was born with honey! The first bees are found in the Minoan era, about 4,000 years ago. During the excavations at Phaistos, clay hives were discovered from the time of the palaces dating to around 3,400 BC. Chronologically, it is long before the Homeric Age, that is, the Neolithic! At the same time, the famous gold jewel of Knossos, where two bees are holding a honeycomb, came to light again after thousands of years.
From Glafkos, the son of Minos and Crete, who drowned in a jar full of honey, chasing a mouse and resurrected by the seer Polydos with the help of a magic herb, many things have happened to this day. Many years have passed, many food products have entered our lives. And without a doubt, many traditional, eating habits of the years are shaken. But one thing is for sure: the gift of the intelligent bee will always be considered the nectar not only of the gods but also of humans!