Photo: BMLFUW/Rit...
Rostentaler Carnica Honig
Record Number: 56
Disclosure Date
First scientific description of the Carnica bee as Apis mellifera carnica by POLLMANN, 1875.
Photo: BM...
Rosentaler Carnica Honig
(Rosental Carnica honey)
Abstract or claim
Tradition of honey production by pure-bred Carnica bees (Apis mellifera carnica) in the Rosental, Carinthia.
Name of product, Product class
Honey
Name of region
Rosental, Carinthia, Austria
Field of search
Food and Agriculture
Name of information provider
Carnica region Rosental
Name of applicant for title
---
Holder of knowledge or associated resources
About 260 beekeepers producing honey and 35 Carnica queen breeders in the region Rosental.
Grantee(s), holder(s),
assignee(s) or owner(s) of title, if any
---
Descriptors
- History:
Honey bees have been endemic in Central Europe for millennia.
After the last Ice Age, honey bees migrated from the Balkan to the ice-free area of Carinthia.
A distinct regional subspecies, Apis mellifera carnica, evolved which adapted to the local geographic and climatic environment.
The Roman poet Vergil (70 - 19 B.C.) describes in his work Gregorica (22/3-5) the difference between the Gallic-Germanic bee and the gentle bees in the south of Noricum, a Roman province stretching over the area of today's Austria and Slovenia.
The Greek historian Strabo (63 B.C. – 23 A.D.) describes beekeeping in today’s region of Villach, Carinthia. Moreover, Columella (- 70 A.D.) and Plinius (- 79 A.D.) mention bees in this region.
In the ancient world, the present-day Rosental was covered with primeval forests which were densely populated with bees. It is known that the Celtic inhabitants delivered honey combs to Rome.
As of the 11th century, in today’s Carinthia, “Zeidelreviere” (Zeidel = organized and protected forest bee-keeping) existed.
As of 1775 beekeeping was controlled in the Rosental by the Grundherrschaft Hollenburg (Manors of Hollenburg).
In the 18th century the reputation of Carnica bees led to their export to other continents. Baron Rothschütz von Podsmreka (in today’s Slovenia), for example, exported Carnica bees to South America and Asia (Bombay, Java) in 1875.
At the beginning of the 20th century a mixture of not well defined bee races was reported to be present in Carinthia.
In order to preserve pure-bred Carnica populations, in 1929 the systematic breeding of pure Carnica bee colonies was started. They originated from a Carnica bee population (strain “Glockner”) found at the foot of the Großglockner, the highest Austrian mountain.
The use of mixed breeds and hybrid species (Buckfast bee) by beekeepers endangers pure-bred Carnica populations.
In order to maintain and promote Carnica beekeeping in the Rosental, a Carnica queen breeding association was established.
A Carnica bee museum at Kirschentheuer near Ferlach was instituted in 1994 and in 2001 a Carnica bee “Belegstelle” (mating place appropriate for pure-breeding of honeys) was officially approved at Johannesruhe in the Bärental (municipality of Feistritz in the Rosental).
Many EC projects (INTERREG and LEADER) have dealt successfully with beekeeping.
Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman
The Rosental is a valley in the south of Carinthia, Austria, leading from Rosegg in the west to Vellach in the east. The Rosental, 40 km in length, is flown through by the river Drau. It is bordered in the north by the mountain range of the Sattnitz and in the south by the Karawanken mountains which constitute the border to Slovenia.
The name ‘Rosental’ is derived from the Lords of Ras or Rasek who built the castle Altrosegg.
- Carnica bee:
This subspecies was classified as Apis mellifera carnica by Pollmann in 1879.
Colloquially, beekeepers call the bee also Kärntner Biene (Carinthian bee), Krainer Biene (Carniolan bee), Graue Biene (Grey bee), Bergbiene (mountain bee) or simply Carnica (or Carnies in English).
Apis mellifera carnica is a subspecies of the Western honey bee and is endemic in the southern Austrian Alps, in Slovenia and in the northern Balkan regions (in parts of Hungary, Romania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia) where it is adapted to different ecotypes of the regions.
Carnica bees are middle-sized, slim bees having gray hairy stripes on the abdomen. The form of the stripes is decisive for the classification.
Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman
Carnica populations in the Rosental are characterized by light-gray stripes. The bees are well adapted to the environmental conditions and nectar availability in the Rosental and are extremely gentle and non-aggressive in their behaviour.
As the Carnica bee is a mountain bee in its native range, it is able to adapt to extreme temperature fluctuations between the seasons and to short springs and warm summers.
Carnica bees overwinter in small numbers and can be kept in areas with long winters.
Populations rapidly build up during spring and decrease substantially in summer (from solstice on), when honey flow is not sufficiently available.
The bee is prone to swarming and has an excellent sense of orientation.
- Honey:
Rosental honey is produced by Carnica bees in hives with movable frames.
Rosental Carnica honey is classified according to its origin as either multifloral or honeydew honey.
Multifloral honey is derived from the nectar of many types of flowers. Flavour and aroma is in line with the predominant flower. Often the flavour of Meadow Clary (Salvia pratensis), dandelion and linden-blossoms (Tilia sp.) dominates. The colour ranges from amber to dark amber.
Honeydew honey is derived from honeydew secreted by sucking insects. It is dark, amber-coloured and stronger flavoured than multifloral honey. It is less sweet and therefore very popular.
Both honey types are presented in the liquid state, crystallized or creamy or in whole combs or sections of combs containing propolis (for chewing purposes).
Rosental honey has to fulfil the organoleptic criteria for honey laid down in the Austrian Codex Alimentarius and the Austrian Honey Ordinance (Honigverordnung, Federal Law Gazette II No 40/2004).
Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman
In the region Rosental about 260 beekeepers produce honey and 35 Carnica queen breeders produce queens which are sold internationally.
The production, processing and packaging of Rosental Carnica honey occurs exclusively in the Rosental region.
Hive management practices seek to produce the highest quality honey. It is not allowed to feed the honey bees during honey harvesting. In the case of bee diseases the bees are to be treated with biotechnical measures and not with drugs.
Traditional methods are used to remove the bees from the combs. During the removal of the frames, the bees are patted off by hand or brushed off using a brush or fowl feathers. When smoke is used as repellent, it has to come from dried tree fungi. Chemical repellents are not used.
The cells are uncapped by hand using uncapping knives or forks which have to be clean, dry and not heated above 40 °C.
The honey is extracted with the greatest care by decanting or by centrifuging, occasionally by pressing.
Once the honey is extracted, it is poured through a double filter in order to remove parts of wax. Then it is stored in stainless-steel tanks where the purification process starts.
The tanks are hermetically sealed in order to avoid any influence which could be negative for the quality and flavour of the honey.
After a storage period of at least 14 days the honey is ready to be filled into glass containers intended for direct consumption.
The glasses are labelled in accordance with the relevant labelling provisions. The name and address of the honey producer prove the origin of the honey in the Rosental.
- Utilization:
Additionally to honey, Rosental beekeepers produce Royal jelly, propolis, beeswax and flower pollen.
Moreover, honey components are processed to honey-wine, honey-liqueur, honey-spirit, honey-chocolate, honey ice cream, bakery products, cosmetic products, and dietary-supplements.
Distinct quality linked to origin and Traditional Knowledge:
- Specific climate conditions in the region Rosental allow the keeping and breeding of bees of the
endangered bee breed Apis mellifera carnica.
- Strong link to the area: bees are well adapted to the nectar availability and the environmental
conditions in the Rosental.
- The unique taste and aroma of the Rosentaler Carnica Honig are directly linked to the breed, the plant
diversity of the region and the traditional production methods.
- The production of Rosentaler Carnica Honig is the result of Traditional Knowledge passed down to the
partners in the sector: Traditional Knowledge and experience of beekeepers (adapting the management
of bees to environmental constraints, historical selection of local breeds, the expertise of beekeepers,
the method of producing honey, genetic improvements) the know-how of the marketer.
- Marketing:
Honey specialities are offered on-farm and by retail partners.
- Protection:
-
Key Words
Food and Agriculture, Traditional Knowledge, Austria, Carinthia, region, Rosental, bees, Apis mellifera carnica, Carnica, honey, Rosental Carnica honey
Bibliography / References
- apis mellifera carnica- KÄRNTEN: das Ursprungsland der Carnica
http://members.aon.at/carnica-brandstaetter/koenigin.htm
- Bienen fliegen wieder - Zahl der Imker nimmt ab
http://www.ages.at/servlet/sls/Tornado/web/ages/content/426DBB8E34032F16C1256E590046E6BC
- Bienen Netz Online
http://www.bienen-netz.de/Rassen/seite17.htm
- Biologie der Honigbiene Apis mellifera carnica Pollm.
http://www.opus-bayern.de/uni-wuerzburg/volltexte/2002/125/pdf/3.pdf
- Carnica Biene
http://www.carnica-zucht.at/zucht1.html
- Carnica Bienenzucht
http://www.carnica-zucht.at/
- Carnica Lebensraum Rosental
http://www.carnica-rosental.at/lebensraum/bienenmus.htm
- Carnica-Region Rosental
http://www.carnica-rosental.at/
- CARNICA Schutzzone - Grenzübergreifende Zucht der Carnica-Biene im Karawankengebiet im
Rosental und der Zelenica
http://www.at-cz.net/si/sub-3-de/projects/si_p1m3_008.htm
- Carniolan Bee: selected characteristics
http://www.carniolan.com/uk/caracter.htm
- Carniolan honey bee
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carniolan_honey_bee
- Die Carnicabiene, Apis mellifera carnica
http://www.nordbiene.de/apis-mellifera-carnica.htm
- F. RUTTNER (1992) „Naturgeschichte der Honigbienen“, Ehrenwirth Verlag, München
http://www.gbv.de/du/services/agi/CF02D94F84F52307C12570A7004C8A0A/420000107231
- Honey bee
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_bee
- Imker fordern Gesetz
http://kaernten.orf.at/stories/182037/
- Kärtner Biene
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%A4rntner_Biene
- Klaus Thomaier. Geschichte der Imkerei März 2006
http://www.foerderverein-schulbiologiezentrum.de/Vortraege%20Foerderverein/Geschichte%20der%20Imkerei.pdf - Landesverband für Bienenzucht in Kärnten
http://www.bienenzucht.org/
- Rassen der Westlichen Honigbiene
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rassen_der_Westlichen_Honigbiene
- Rosental (Kärnten)
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosental_(K%C3%A4rnten)
- Rosentaler Carnica Biene
www.genuss-region.at
- SLOWENIEN UND DIE BIENENZUCHT
http://www.carniolan.com/de/sloapi.htm
- Unsere heimischen Biene
http://www.aca.at/index.php?seitenId=5
- Zuchtordnung
http://www.bienenzucht.org/pdf/zuchtordnung.pdf
All internet references last accessed on 4 April 2008.
Language Code
German
Product of www.genuss-region.at
Yes
Regional contact
Carnica-Region Rosental
Sponheimer Platz 1
9170 Ferlach
www.carnica-rosental.at
E-mail: office@carnica-rosental.at
Phone: 04227/5119
Fax: 04227/4970
Authors: Mag. Eva. Sommer, Dr. Erhard Höbaus
22.02.2010, Lebensministerium III/4