Spring Honey from the Beekeeping School 1kg

This spring honey comes from Le Rucher de l'École, the farm run by Virginie and William Gay in Saint-Léger-de-Fougeret, in the Nièvre. The couple describe themselves as bee shepherds in the Morvan hills for two generations. It is a multifloral honey, harvested in early May on the Nivernais plain in Burgundy, the harvest that opens their season. The jar states a French honey, unpasteurised, extracted by centrifuge at hive temperature, around 34 °C.

Its colour runs from off-white to beige and the taste is soft and fresh, without the bitterness of a chestnut or fir honey. It crystallises naturally and fast; the beekeepers describe a marbled crystallisation, with paler streaks in the jar, which takes nothing away from the quality. Spread it on buttered bread, or stir it into a yoghurt or a warm herbal tea. In baking, its mild taste suits gingerbread, madeleines or a nougat mix, where it does not cover the other flavours.

Keep the 1 kg glass jar closed, in a dry place at room temperature. If you like it runnier, a lukewarm water bath softens it. You will also find it on the shelves of our shop, 58 rue Tiquetonne, Paris.