Strawberry Tree Honey (Arbutus honey) is the quintessential bitter honey. While there are other honeys considered bitter-such as those from Dandelion, Thistle, Heather, and Chestnut-they tend to have a less pronounced bitterness. Instead, we might describe them as “not sweet,” whereas Strawberry Tree Honey is truly, and pleasantly, bitter.

To understand why Strawberry Tree Honey is so rare, it’s helpful to know a bit about the plant from which our bee friends gather the nectar that they transform into this precious honey. The strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) is an evergreen plant belonging to the Ericaceae family. It’s common in Mediterranean climates and can grow as a shrub or a tree, reaching heights of over 10 meters.

The strawberry tree blooms in autumn (October/November), and its fruits ripen the following autumn. It’s quite common to see both flowers-small, white bell-shaped blossoms-and fruits on the same branches at the same time. The fruits start out yellow and turn red as they fully mature. This simultaneous presence of flowers and ripe fruits makes the strawberry tree a truly unique and fascinating plant!

Maurizio Pitzolu - 01 May 2025