At a glance
Pyrenean rhododendron honey
Rhododendron ferrugineum · neret
Colour
Light amberup to 40 mm Pfund
Aroma
Floral with resinous notesreminiscent of mountain conifer woods
Taste
Sweet with tart notesclean taste
Crystallisation
Slowoften stays liquid
Season
Summerthe short alpine summer
Region
Pyreneesabove 1,800 m
Pollen reference
25%intermediate pollen representation
HMF
up to 40 mg/kggeneral legal limit; guide reference 50
The shrub locally called neret supplies a brief high-altitude honey flow. The Iberian guide places it above 1,800 metres and gives a particular laboratory reference for it and two other Pyrenean profiles.
The rusty-leaved alpenrose, Rhododendron ferrugineum, grows in subalpine scrub just above the forest. Its summer flowers produce a pale honey with a resinous aroma, an unusual descriptor in the Iberian guide.
Reading and tasting Pyrenean rhododendron honey
This Spanish-language field guide compares botanical origin, tasting and laboratory findings. Use the profile together with the traceability of the lot.
Check the guide against the lot record
- Record the declared mountain origin and the harvest details.
- Use the lab report and the applicable standard for the lot.
Why the guide lists a different HMF value for three Pyrenean honeys
Three high Pyrenean profiles share a particular guide value. For rhododendron, alpine clover and high mountain honey the guide reports HMF up to 50 mg/kg, rather than 40 for its other profiles. The general legal limit for ordinary Spanish honey in these categories is 40 mg/kg. The altitude of the harvest does not create an exemption.
HMF, hydroxymethylfurfural, increases with heating and time in storage. Interpret the laboratory report alongside the history of the lot and the applicable standard.
Colour
Pale, up to 40 mm Pfund. It falls between water white and extra-light amber, consistent with a mountain blossom honey with little contribution from honeydew.
Pyrenean rhododendron honey on the Pfund scale
In the four lighter bands. On-screen colours give an approximate visual guide. A laboratory measures the actual value.
Aroma, taste and texture
Sensory profile
Our interpretation of the descriptions in the Guía de mieles monoflorales ibéricas. A delicate profile without pronounced extremes.
Aroma
A floral aroma with resinous notes that recall conifer woods and sap. This describes the scent, not the presence of resin in the honey.
Taste
Sweet with a tart note and little marked bitterness or saltiness.
Crystallisation
Crystallisation tends to be slow. The honey can remain liquid for months. For the underlying reasons, see why honey crystallises.
Interpreting the laboratory profile
| Parameter | Reference in the guide | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Colour | up to 40 mm Pfund | Light amber. A strong amber colour would fall outside the guide’s profile. |
| Moisture | up to 18% | Fermentation risk increases above the guide value. The general EU limit for blossom honey is 20%. |
| Fructose and glucose combined | at least 60% | A characteristic of blossom honey. This figure on its own cannot exclude added syrup. |
| Sucrose | up to 5% | One of the sugars reported in the analysis. |
| Electrical conductivity | up to 0.40 mS/cm | Low, as expected for a relatively low-mineral blossom honey with little honeydew. |
| Free acidity | up to 50 meq/kg | Can rise with fermentation or extended storage. |
| HMF | up to 50 mg/kg in the guide | The two other profiles with this figure are alpine clover and high mountain honey. The legal limit is separate: for ordinary Spanish honey in these categories it remains 40 mg/kg. |
| Diastase activity | at least 8 Schade units | Indicator of enzyme activity, which can decline with heat. |
| Rhododendron pollen | at least 25% | Intermediate pollen representation. This is a proportion of the grains counted. |
Reference ranges from the Guía de mieles monoflorales ibéricas, fourth edition (2023). These characterise the variety. Spanish statutory limits are set by Royal Decree 1049/2003 as amended by Royal Decree 68/2025, including a general maximum of 20% moisture and 40 mg/kg HMF, subject to the exceptions in the legislation.
Other pollen in Pyrenean rhododendron honey
- Daisy family (Asteraceae)
- Legumes
- Pollen from earlier flows
Growing areas and harvest season
The guide identifies subalpine Pyrenean scrub above 1,800 metres. Hives can be moved up after snowmelt and brought back before conditions deteriorate. Access is difficult and the summer flowering period short.
Rhododendron honey flow
FloweringFlowering and harvest
The guide places the main harvest in summer. Above 1,800 metres the summer is short. Flowering and harvesting can be concentrated in a few weeks.
How to recognise Pyrenean rhododendron honey
- 1Look for the resinous note. It is a distinctive aroma in this guide.
- 2Pale, up to 40 mm Pfund. A dark amber sample falls outside the profile.
- 3Sweet with a tart note. Little marked saltiness or bitterness.
- 4It crystallises slowly. It often stays liquid.
- 5Check where the bees foraged. The guide describes subalpine scrub above 1,800 metres. Compare apiary location with the actual flowering area.
For a broader view, see how to assess honey quality and our guide to Spanish honey labelling requirements.
Composition and health claims
Health claims on food are regulated in the EU. The distinguishing features here are its floral origin, conductivity and sensory profile.
These characteristics matter when tasting or using the honey.
- A resinous note distinguishes it from the other aromatic profiles in the guide.
- Above 1,800 metres, the flowering window may last only a few weeks.
- The guide gives conductivity up to 0.40 mS/cm, consistent with its low mineral content and mild taste.
- Its mild flavour suits mountain cheeses, yoghurt and delicate pastries.
Who should take particular care?
Children under 12 months. Do not give honey to infants under one year. It can contain spores of Clostridium botulinum that may cause infant botulism. This applies to all types of honey.
Diabetes. honey is a source of sugars. This also applies to natural and monofloral honeys when planning a diet.
Known allergy. Anyone with a diagnosed allergy to honey or bee products should consult their clinician if unsure what is safe for them.
Frequently asked questions
What does neret mean?
It is a local name used in the Pyrenees for Rhododendron ferrugineum, or rusty-leaved alpenrose, a shrub that grows above the tree line. The guide places its honey flow above 1,800 metres.
Does this honey have a higher legal HMF limit?
No. Along with alpine clover and high mountain honey, it has a 50 mg/kg reference in the Iberian guide. The general legal maximum for ordinary Spanish honey in these categories remains 40 mg/kg.
What does Pyrenean rhododendron honey taste like?
It is sweet with a little acidity. Its floral aroma carries resinous notes reminiscent of sap and conifer woods.
Is it the same as high mountain honey?
The two can share a landscape, but the guide distinguishes them. Its monofloral rhododendron profile specifies at least 25% rhododendron pollen. Its mixed high mountain profile specifies at least 15% each of rhododendron and alpine clover pollen.
Who should take particular care?
Do not give honey to infants under 12 months. People with diabetes should account for its sugars, and anyone allergic to hive products should seek individual medical advice. EFSA’s 2023 assessment explains why the common name “rhododendron honey” alone cannot establish the safety of a lot. The Pyrenean profile here refers to Rhododendron ferrugineum . Other rhododendron species, includingR. ponticum and R. luteum, appear in the literature. A botanical name or a sensory description is no substitute for traceability and appropriate food-safety controls.
Where to buy Pyrenean rhododendron honey
We do not currently stock this honey. For a traceable Pyrenean harvest, ask beekeepers working in Catalonia, Aragón or Navarre. For a mild, pale Spanish honey in our range, see raw rosemary honey.
Sources
The reference ranges come from the fourth edition (June 2023) of the Guía de mieles monoflorales ibéricas by J. Orantes, F. Gonell, C. Torres and A. Gómez-Pajuelo, published by Laboratorios Apinevada and Pajuelo Consultores Apícolas. Their work draws on a series reaching back to 1980 and more than 3,600 analyses a year across the two laboratories. The printed guide in Spanish is available in our shop.
This profile belongs to our series on Iberian honeys. Compare it with the two other high Pyrenean profiles, alpine clover and high mountain honey.
