Country

Germany

Germany has an enormous beekeeper population, but surprisingly few are professionals. The German Beekeepers Association estimates about 143,000 beekeepers and 964,000 colonies, with 96% keeping no more than 25 colonies. Geography matters enormously: northern rapeseed, city linden, Lüneburg Heath heather and southern forest honeydew can all produce very different honey. The Black Forest is especially important for fir and forest honeydew, while the Lüneburg Heath remains famous for thick, aromatic heather honey harvested late in summer. Germany also carries another lost-bee story: the European dark honeybee was historically native but has been largely displaced from commercial beekeeping, leaving conservation projects trying to preserve what remains.