Sample Peloponnesian Honey in Mani

An accomplished commercial real estate executive in Western Massachusetts, Demetrios Panteleakis brings more than 15 years of experience to his position as the president of Macmillan Group, LLC, in Springfield. A native of Greece, Demetrios Panteleakis hails from the Mani peninsula in the Peloponnese region.

One of the three peninsulas extending south from Greece’s Peloponnese region, Mani boasts a rich history and beautiful natural landscape that draws visitors from around the world each year. In addition to its natural and historic beauty, visitors to Mani enjoy the regional culinary specialties that make the area unique. Among these is Peloponnesian honey. 

The practices of beekeeping and honey making are nearly as old as Greece itself, with references appearing in ancient Greek myths and in classic Greek literature, such as Homer’s Odyssey. In the Peloponnese, this tradition is carried on by producers whose unique honey comes from bees that collect the nectar of eucalyptus trees, orange blossoms, olive blossoms, and other local wildflowers.

In Mani, beekeepers move their hives throughout the year from olive groves to wildflower pastures to pine forests depending on the season. As a result, local producers offer a wide range of products, from the piney taste of fir honey to the aromatic fragrance of wildflower honey.