Mel do Barroso

Mel de Barroso is a honey produced by Apis mellifera iberiensis from the melliferous flora of the Barroso region in Trás-os-Montes, Portugal. Its specification requires ericaceous pollen to predominate at above 15%, a colour reading above 80 on the Pfund scale, and moisture below 18%. Honey meeting a higher ericaceous pollen threshold may be labelled Mel de Urze or Mel de Queiró.

About this designation

Mel de Barroso holds PDO status under file number PDO-PT-0229, registered with the EU on 21 June 1996. The protected name as registered is 'Mel de Barroso'. The eAmbrosia identifier is EUGI00000013239. The honey is produced exclusively by Apis mellifera iberiensis from the nectar of the melliferous flora typical of the defined geographical area. The specification sets the following product parameters: moisture below 18%; reducing sugars (fructose and glucose) above 65%; ash below 0.6%; insoluble substances below 0.1%; colour above 80 on the Pfund scale (mm); ericaceous pollen predominant and always above 15%; and eucalyptus pollen below 5%. Where ericaceous pollen exceeds 35%, the honey may additionally be labelled 'Mel de Urze' or 'Mel de Queiró'. The defined geographical area comprises the municipalities of Boticas, Chaves, Montalegre and Vila Pouca de Aguiar, and the parishes of Jou and Valongo de Milhais in the municipality of Murça. Both production and extraction must take place within this area. Artificial feeding of bee colonies is not permitted, except where mandatory sanitary or phytosanitary measures are imposed, or in cases of natural disaster or adverse meteorological conditions, in which case a syrup of water and sugar and/or honey may be used. Mel de Barroso must be packaged before being placed on the market and may be sold in liquid or crystallised form or as fully capped honeycomb containing no brood. Packaging must bear either the wording 'MEL DE BARROSO — DENOMINAÇÃO DE ORIGEM PROTEGIDA' or 'MEL DE BARROSO DOP', and must identify the inspection body.

Source: The register document this entry was written from · retrieved August 28, 2026

Distinctive facts

• Registered as a PDO on 21 June 1996 under file number PDO-PT-0229 (eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013239).
• Ericaceous pollen must always exceed 15% and must be the predominant pollen type; eucalyptus pollen must remain below 5%.
• Honey with ericaceous pollen above 35% may be additionally labelled 'Mel de Urze' or 'Mel de Queiró'; no other variety designation is permitted.
• Artificial feeding of colonies is not permitted except under mandatory sanitary, phytosanitary, natural disaster or adverse meteorological conditions.

Tasting notes

Trás-os-Montes Barroso honey DOP.

HoReCa use

Barroso pairings.

Packaging

• glass-jar-250g
• glass-jar-500g