Toni Anglada and his sweet project, Dolçamar

Miriam Triay/Ciutadella - Antoni Anglada is the beekeeper behind Dolçamar. A project that was born in 2012, from "the passion, the certainty and the desire to make Menorcan honey, an ancestral honey, known to the world". With the intention of promoting the Menorcan product, beyond the borders, Anglada began to show its honey. Participating in different competitions, from the beginning, and winning several gold medals, the beekeeper from Ciutadella has shown, on more than one occasion, that "the honey of Menorca is extraordinary".

What distinguishes an organic honey?
Obviously you must have the seal of the regulatory body, which in the case of the Balearic Islands is the CBPAE (Consell Balearic for Ecological Agricultural Production). This is what certifies the traceability of the entire process. That we do not use chemical medicine or chemical food, and also that in the environment where the cottage is located, they manage the soil ecologically.
I wish there were more organic apiaries here. Which, as far as I know, the idea is to put more.
But, and although all this is growing and evolving, the fact is that we do not have large productions in Menorca.
In addition, we are now in a slightly critical moment because the flowering is too short.

Do the bees notice it then, that we have come from four complicated years?
Of course, yes. Our obligation as beekeepers is to keep them alive. For this reason, what we try to do, from the Menorcan Association of Beekeepers, is to use specific food for bees. What any farmer would do, or already does, with his animals. Try to give nutrients that are not in the field. what's up Which increases the price, obviously. And that is not the same.

Moving on to talk, specifically, about Dolçamar... what future projects does it have?
grow up In many ways. The first, in booths. Currently managing 150. And from here, what I would like to do is internationalize the brand. Turn it into a powerful company. Not only because the honey from Menorca is extraordinary, but to be able to sell part of the production in the most exclusive markets in the world, at a different price. Give visibility to the brand, to Menorcan honey, to its quality, and also to its history. And then, I would also like to try other aspects with honey, at the level of apitoxin, which is the poison of bees, at the level of royal jelly or even bee food. There are several projects that I have in mind, but for which I don't have time or financial help. These are very expensive ideas. But I will make it. I know that for sure.

As for honey, normally, you and Dolçamar, usually specialize in multifloral...
Yes, in Menorca, multifloral honey is the most abundant, the one that can be made the most. It is 90%.
Then, as for monofloral honeys, you could make honey from cypress, heather, clover, rosemary, enclova, abatzer and white thistle. Depending on the time of year when each one blooms, and where the house is placed. Because the bees go, above all, 3 km in the round of action. A bee tries to economize as much as possible in the search for pollen and nectar. And if there is one nearby, they go there. Although, if they detect an important source further out, they will go there too.

Talk about a story behind the honey, what is it referring to?
One of the things that I think the Menorcan product lacks is knowing how to open a hole in international markets. And this happens, among other things, to create a story, to tell. Fortunately, in the case of honey this already exists. I explain To begin with, we have a facsimile showing how Menorcan Honey was already sold in a shop in London at the end of the 18th century. Therefore, there was already an international interest 300 years ago.
In addition, there is a key Menorcan character in the history of honey, during the 19th century: Francesc Andreu and Femenías. He was a versatile businessman from Mao, who also devoted part of his time to being a beekeeper. In fact, he introduced modern cottages to Spain, taking them to Menorca. He was ahead of his time. He also edited a magazine specialized in beekeeping, all over Spain, where he explained the latest news about the world. And he was one of the first to enter and win international and national beekeeping competitions. I mean that almost 130 years ago, honey from Menorca was already winning competitions, and 300 years ago, it was already being sold outside the island. It's about recovering this story, telling it, analyzing it, making it our own, and repeating it, improving it.