Deli bal or mad honey is a Turkish honey variety originating from the Black Sea region. The honey is produced by bees from the nectar of Rhododendron ponticum and luteum, which contain a natural neurotoxin called grayanotoxin.
Deli bal is typically amber red in color, with a smooth, rich flavor and a slight hint of bitterness. Some people use it as a kind of medicine that's believed to treat hypertension, stomach diseases, and diabetes, while others use it as an aphrodisiac.
When used in other drinks (such as milk) or eaten on its own, deli bal gives the consumer a sense of euphoria and sometimes even hallucinations.
This honey is made by Apis mellifera bees from Iberian wildflower nectar collected from the Mediterranean plant life of the Ribatejo region in central Portugal. It comes in four types, depending on the different percentages of pollen they contain: Serra d'Aire (rosemary, lavender, and mint), Albufeira de Castelo de Bode (heather, myrtle, and chestnut), Bairro (thistle), and Alto Nabão (eucalyptus pollen).
The honey is characterized by its intense aroma, floral flavor, and light yellow color. Apart from being consumed in its natural state, this product is used heavily in the production of local bread and pastries. One famous example of this is Broas, a sweet bread made with flour, honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Hailing from the wild rainforests of Tasmania’s west coast, leatherwood honey is an exceptional honey variety that is highly-prized among honey connoisseurs and gourmets all over the world. Ligustica bees make this rare honey from the nectar of the leatherwood plant’s (Eucryphia lucida and Eucryphia milliganii) delicate, white flowers during the leatherwood harvest season that usually takes place between January and March each year.
The honey has a smooth, creamy, and buttery texture, while the flavor is mildly sweet, floral, clean, and fresh, with a spicy finish. It has a low acidity level and is believed to possess beneficial medicinal properties. Leatherwood honey can be enjoyed smeared over a slice of bread or a sweet waffle, and it is frequently used in the preparation of various desserts due to its unique sweetness and aroma.
Peri Bali is an extremely expensive Turkish honey originating from the mountains of Saricayir Dagi from Artvin province. The honey is extremely rare – it's harvested and extracted from the high walls of a cave, thus being incapable of being reproduced.
In 2009, a Turkish beekeeper Günay Gündüz harvested 18 kilograms of this honey with the help of professional climbers. It has high amounts of minerals due to the surrounding cave, so the price for one kilogram began at 45,000 Euros.
Nowadays, there's still a bit of honey left, but the price is unknown and probably much higher than the beginning one.
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