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IN THE SPOTLIGHT: MELATA HONEY
After a brief hiatus, our Honey of the Month feature returns to place the spotlight on an exclusive honey varietal we carry at Mad Rose Specialty Foods. The Melata is a discovery we made last year during our annual visit to Caluso to visit Andrea Bianco at Mario Bianco’s HQ. Melata translates to “honeydew”, and while it brings to mind the famed fruit, it actually refers to the honeydew that bees collect from the stems, leaves, and bark of sap-producing plants. Compared to floral honey that is produced from the nectar of blossoms, honeydew honey is a startling and rich source of amino acids and essential minerals, and is loaded with calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and iron.
Dark and particularly viscous, the flavor of Melata is somewhat reminiscent of molasses, with a clean finish that lends itself particularly well to cooking. We have enjoyed using it as part of soy-based marinades (pair it with soy, mirin, sesame oil, crushed garlic and a fatty king salmon for a luscious at-home take on teriyaki). Neal has found it works well as a poultice too, with its natural properties that promote healing. Discover all of Melata’s special qualities today.
