LITHUANIA | Li1, Spring Blossom | Li2, Summer polyfloral | Li3, Rapeseed | Li4, Linden | Li5, Buckwheat | Li6, Sosnowsky’s hogweed | Li7, Forest, European dark bee | Li8, Multifloral Hollow tree beekeeping | Li9, Vilnius city honeydew |
Li7, Forest, European dark bee
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The honey
The dark European honeybee (Apis mellifera mellifera) was long thought to have disappeared from Lithuania. Yet in 2017, genetic research revealed that although with its genetics slightly altered, this subspecies had never completely vanished from our land.
To safeguard it, the association Lietuvos tamsioji bitė was established, and in 2024 the bees were added to the Lithuanian National Red List of Threatened Species. However, only colonies living naturally in tree hollows are recognized as a protected population. The dark honeybee is far better adapted to survive in our natural conditions, thriving in forests and wetlands. It is often considered less gentle with humans than other subspecies. For this reason, and in order to prevent further genetic crossover between the Apis mellifera subspecies, the dark honeybee can only be found in a small area of the country. While fir and spruce honeydew dominates the honey, less familiar notes from the peculiar wetland plants can also be detected. Aroma: resinous, woody with notes of damp forest floor. Taste: deep, less sweet, with malty and mineral accents. Texture: thick, syrupy, remaining liquid for long time. The beekeeping
Today, the number of Lithuanian beekeepers working commercially with the dark bee could be counted on one hand. Among them is the Grimutai family, for whom beekeeping is part of their legacy.
It began, over 70 years ago, with grandfather Nikolajus Grimuta, who taught himself the craft and passed on not only his knowledge but also his respect for nature and people to the next generations. Surrounded by wild nature near the Čepkeliai Marsh and Dzūkija National Park forests, the apiary has been awarded organic production certification as of July 2025. |
