Cuban Organic Honey: The Caribbean's Golden Treasure Conquering Europe

In a world where bee populations are collapsing due to massive pesticide use, there’s a Caribbean island that has become an accidental beekeeping sanctuary. Cuba produces 100% organic honey — not by ideological choice, but through a historical circumstance that turned scarcity into competitive advantage.

The Accident That Created a Bee Paradise

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Cuba lost access to 80% of its pesticide and chemical fertilizer imports. What seemed like an agricultural catastrophe turned out to be a blessing for pollinators. Without synthetic chemicals spraying the fields, the entire island became a toxin-free ecosystem where bees thrive.

While in the United States, Europe, and China, bee colonies suffer from Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), Cuban bees enjoy enviable health. The island’s tropical flora — with its mangroves, royal palms, marabú shrubs, and wildflowers — offers a natural buffet that produces honeys with unique flavor profiles.

Sweet Numbers: Cuban Honey by the Stats

Cuba’s beekeeping industry has grown steadily:

• 9,200 tonnes produced in 2022, according to Cuba’s National Statistics Office (ONEI)
• 90% of production is destined for export
• 4,700 tonnes exported to the European Union in 2023 (Eurostat)
• Cuba is the EU’s 7th largest honey supplier
• Generates over $22 million annually in foreign currency
• Honey is Cuba’s 4th largest agricultural export, ahead of sugar and coffee

Cuban honey is worth more per liter than oil, according to the FAO. Its natural organic certification commands a premium price in European markets, where Germany, France, and Spain are the main buyers.

APICUBA: The Backbone of Cuban Beekeeping

The state enterprise APICUBA coordinates the entire honey production chain in Cuba. Its functions go beyond processing:

• Training beekeepers across all provinces
• Technical assistance to maintain organic practices
• Quality control before export
• Coordination with Cubaexport for international commercialization

Private beekeepers — thousands of them scattered across the island — sell their production to the state at international market prices. It’s a unique system: the government pays according to global rates and handles export logistics, channeling 98.5% of external sales through Cubaexport.

Varieties of Cuban Honey

Cuba’s botanical diversity produces honeys with distinctive characteristics:

• Campanilla honey — Light, mild, the most common. Comes from Ipomoea, abundant in Cuban fields
• Mangrove honey — Dark and robust, from coastal mangroves. Rich in minerals
• Marabú honey — Deep amber, from the invasive shrub Dichrostachys cinerea. Complex floral flavor
• Tropical multifloral honey — A blend of wild nectars, each harvest unique

European beekeepers who import Cuban honey highlight its exceptional purity and total absence of chemical residues — something nearly impossible to find from other origins.

Matanzas: Cuba’s Honey Capital

While honey is produced throughout the island, the province of Matanzas has established itself as Cuba’s most productive beekeeping region. Its vast plains with wild vegetation and proximity to the Zapata Swamp — the Caribbean’s largest wetland — offer ideal conditions for bees.

Other notable provinces include Sancti Spíritus, Camagüey, and Santiago de Cuba, each contributing different flavor profiles based on local flora.

The Dilemma: Export vs. Domestic Consumption

Here’s the bitter paradox of this sweet story. While Cuba generates millions exporting premium organic honey to Europe, Cubans themselves have very limited access to this product on the island. With 90% destined for export, honey becomes another example of a world-class Cuban product that Cubans can barely enjoy.

This pattern repeats with other island products, like Cuban rum or cigars, where premium production is channeled toward foreign markets.

Traditional Uses of Honey in Cuba

Beyond sweetening, honey has a long tradition of uses in Cuban culture:

• Folk medicine: cold remedy, mixed with lemon and rum
• Cuban propolis: internationally recognized for its antimicrobial properties
• Creole cuisine: glazes for roast pork, dressings for tropical fruits and traditional desserts
• Beeswax: used in crafts, cosmetics, and preservation

Where to Find Cuban Honey Outside Cuba

If you’re in the diaspora or simply want to try this premium honey, here are some options:

• Apisun Honey — Specialized distributor of Cuban honey for international markets
• European gourmet shops — Especially in Germany, France, and Spain
• Miel Factory — French online store with certified Cuban honey
• Latin markets in the U.S. — Some specialty stores import it via third countries

A Golden Future

Cuba has the potential to double its honey production. With over 200,000 active hives and a pesticide-free ecosystem that other countries envy, Cuban beekeeping is positioned for growth. The challenge lies in modernizing equipment, improving logistics, and — perhaps most importantly — ensuring more honey reaches Cuban tables.

In a world obsessed with organic and natural products, Cuba has been decades ahead without even trying. Cuban honey isn’t just a product: it’s proof that sometimes, the greatest limitations create the best opportunities.

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