Pining away for sweet goodness
Honey from Greece / A Honolulu-based company has dedicated itself to the sole purpose of honey. No, not raw white honey or lehua honey from the Big Island, but honey from Greece.
Kailua-born Deena Frooman fell in love with the Greek sticky stuff while working at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. There, she met an apiarist, whom Frooman calls the Bee King, and instantly fell in love with the pine tree honey–not just the creamy texture, but the process of making it. Since that year, “I’ve gone back every summer, I stay at [the beekeeper’s] house and help. It’s my little secret life of bees,” said Frooman, who describes her new business venture as simply “a passionate hobby. I love to travel around the world and eat honeys.” Health is another reason she wants to spread the good word. “I want people to understand that honey is one of the best sweeteners and to stop using artificial sweeteners full of chemicals,” she said.
In addition to its natural goodness, this honey, also known as elato (meaning “from the tree” in Greek), is naturally organic and is different from most honeys on the market because it’s harvested from pine tree sap, not flowers or clovers. The harvesting period is only over two weeks during the summer, in the mountains a few hours south of Athens. In addition, the honey will never crystallize. “This honey is for the gourmet eater who really appreciates food at its finest form,” said Frooman.
Almost a pound of the honey will cost you $20, including shipping and handling costs–even to Hawaii. That’s an offer that may be as rare as the honey.
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