Honey made in Tenerife crowned best in Spain

A chestnut honey produced in La Orotava has been named the best in Spain at the XII National Mieladictos competition, bringing a sweet success to Tenerife.

Oromiel, made by beekeeper Juan Jesús Ramos Fariña, took first place at the final in Valladolid on Saturday, beating 11 other shortlisted honeys in a blind tasting.

The competition attracted 130 honey entries from 14 Spanish regions, with the finalists assessed without judges knowing the producer’s name or where each sample came from.

That meant the Tenerife honey earned its place on the strength of what was in the jar. The competition’s judging criteria include aroma, flavour, texture and appearance, with samples submitted anonymously and identified by codes.

The winning variety is chestnut honey, made by bees gathering nectar from chestnut flowers. Its victory puts one of Tenerife’s local food producers in the national spotlight and offers residents and visitors another island speciality to look out for.

Second place went to Dezabellas, a multifloral honey produced by Álvaro Martínez García in Pontevedra, Galicia. Api Nava, a heather honey made by Ariadna Nava Siles in Burgos, finished third.

For Ramos Fariña, the national title adds to an established record of success closer to home.

In 2021, his Oromiel chestnut honey won the Gran Celdilla de Oro award for the best honey carrying protected designation of origin status in the Canary Islands. The brand also received a presentation award in the regional honey competition in 2022.

Another chestnut honey marketed under the Oromiel and El Productor brands secured a Celdilla de Oro at Tenerife’s regional competition in 2024.

The latest award recognises Oromiel as the overall winner of this year’s Mieladictos contest, which aims to help consumers discover quality Spanish honeys and the beekeepers behind them.

For La Orotava, it is another reason to celebrate the quality of its local produce, with a Tenerife beekeeper taking the top prize against competition from across the country.