Türkiye’s unique pine honey is nationally protected thanks to new GI status

Pine honey is darker and thicker than flower honey and richer in minerals. Its distinctive resinous fragrance and slightly woody, caramel notes come from the honeydew residue bees collect from the Marchalina hellenica insects feeding on the sap of certain pine trees. 

Türkiye produces most of the world’s pine honey, notably along the Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. And now that pine honey – Türk Çam Balı – is nationally protected thanks to the geographic indication (GI) recently awarded by TURKPATENT, the Turkish Patent and Trademark office.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) worked closely with Türkiye’s main pine honey industry players – beekeepers, processors, exporters, government officials, economists and scientists – to develop and register the GI. 

That included defining a specific code of practice, understanding the legal and regulatory environment, sharing knowledge on GI certification and management, and creating a pine honey association to move these efforts forward. 

Name recognition

The world’s more than 9 000 geographically protected foods have carved out an interesting corner in the market, catering to consumers who value quality, tradition and reputation and are often willing to pay a premium for such an assurance of origin.   

Yunus Manav is President of the National Pine Honey Association, an umbrella entity that brings together beekeepers, packagers, processors, manufacturers, relevant civil society organizations and academia.

For him, receiving the GI was an important step in recognizing and protecting what is special and unique about the country’s pine honey.

“A GI is a trusted label,” he said. “When consumers see the name Türk Çam Balı, they will know that what they are buying is an authentic pine honey produced in Türkiye according to specific methods and that meets high quality and food safety standards.”  

He added that the GI can improve efficiency and relationships along the supply chain, encourage innovation and diversification, protect local know-how and “inspire future generations to carry on this beekeeping tradition.”

With the GI, there is now even more reason to protect the country’s unique biodiversity, especially the pine forests and Marchalina hellenica. This is important, as Türkiye is home to one-fifth of the world’s 25 bee sub-species. 

The country also faces diverse climate challenges and extreme weather events, such as the recent wildfires. Opening up premium markets domestically for the GI pine honey and shifting to a stronger export orientation could strengthen the livelihoods of Türkiye’s beekeepers and pine honey producers.

That is why Türkiye is keen to have its pine honey registered at the European Union level – a move that would create more opportunities, increase global recognition and protect the name from counterfeits in the market.

Over the years, the EBRD and FAO have built up a solid portfolio of international best practices and knowledge on GIs. They have worked with other countries to get their unique food products protected with a GI – from Serbia’s Arilje raspberries and Georgia’s Tushetian guda cheese to Türkiye’s Bursa black figs and Bursa peaches. And they continue to share this expertise with other producers interested in following suit. 

By improving quality and market access, promoting sustainable practices and championing the strong bonds between people, place and product, these efforts are contributing to more inclusive and resilient agrifood systems. 

For more on the project activities, see Agtivate.