The Honeys of Tenerife: Sweet Stories from the Volcano

Tenerife is full of surprises. One day you’re climbing Mount Teide, the next you’re sipping sangria by the beach. But did you know the island also produces some of the most unique honey in the world?

Yes, honey. Not the kind that comes in a plastic bear from the supermarket, but authentic, small-batch, Protected Designation of Origin (D.O.P. Miel de Tenerife) honey. Think flavours shaped by volcanoes, trade winds, and flowers that don’t even exist anywhere else on the planet.

A Bee with Attitude 🐝

Meet the Canarian black bee (abeja negra canaria). Tough, resilient, and totally adapted to island life, this little powerhouse is responsible for around 150,000 kilos of honey each year — about half of all the honey in the Canary Islands.

With nearly 10,000 mobile hives buzzing around the island, beekeepers (some 500 of them, mostly family-run) move their bees like nomads. Today in the foothills, tomorrow up in Teide National Park. Why? To follow the blooms and capture flavours you simply can’t get anywhere else.

Multi-flower Magic ✨ (Milflores)

Sometimes the bees can’t pick just one flower — and that’s when milflores honey happens. These are blends of blossoms, and they taste different depending on altitude:

• High Mountain Honey – Above 1,200 m, in Las Cañadas del Teide. Pale, delicate, with notes of broom and bugloss (tajinaste).
• Foothills Honey – Between 450 and 1,200 m. Stronger flavours if chestnut or heather dominate, lighter if oregano or eucalyptus takes the lead.
• Coastal Honey – Below 450 m. Think orange blossom, avocado, banana. The famous avocado–banana honeycomes from here — dark, intense, almost like a Canarian caramel sauce.

Single-flower Stars 🌸

When the bees stick (mostly) to one plant, you get a single-flower honey with its own personality.

• Teide White Broom (Retama del Teide)
  Light amber, elegant, slightly floral. The island’s oldest and most traditional honey, perfect in tea or on warm toast.
• Tajinaste Honey
  From Tenerife’s iconic bugloss flowers. Light, creamy, floral — it tastes like spring in a spoon.
• Avocado–Banana Honey
  Dark, almost black, with notes of ripe fruit and caramel. Traditionally mixed with gofio and dried fruits into sweet energy balls (pellas).
• Chestnut Honey
  Amber, bold, slightly bitter. Ideal for drizzling over roast meats or pairing with strong cheeses.
• Heather Honey
  Rare, amber-coloured, earthy, and a little astringent. A honey for the adventurous palate.

And if you’re really into exploring, there are other rarities too: barrilla (smooth and toffee-like), tedera (light, vegetal, with coconut notes), or malpica (a soft thistle honey from over 1,200 m).

Why Tenerife Honey Is So Special 🍯

• The land – Volcanic soil and microclimates create flavours you can’t reproduce elsewhere.
• The flora – Endemic plants like tajinaste and retama add unique character.
• The tradition – Generations of beekeepers keep the craft alive, often moving hives by hand.
• The protection – With PDO certification, every jar of Miel de Tenerife is quality-checked.

Where to Taste and Buy It

• Farmers’ markets – Try Adeje Market on weekends or Tacoronte Market in the north.
• Casa de la Miel (House of Honey) in El Sauzal – a visitor centre where you can learn, taste, and shop.
• Local shops – Look for the PDO seal on labels: Miel de Tenerife.

Pro tip: pick up a jar of avocado–banana honey and serve it with local cheese. It’s a love story in your mouth.

Related Reading

• For more local flavours: A Foodie’s Guide to Canarian Cuisine in Costa Adeje
• Don’t miss: Costa Adeje’s Local Markets – What to Buy and Where

Learn More

• Official PDO Miel de Tenerife: mieldetenerife.org
• Casa de la Miel Visitors Centre: casadelvinotenerife.com