Stavros Hondos

HONDOS organic honey

My name is Stavros Hondos and I am a mechanical engineer. I worked for one of the largest multinational chemical companies in Greece. For over twenty years, my professional career has focused mainly on environmental protection, safety, employee health, and hazardous waste management. I have participated as an inspector in the above areas in various factories abroad. My involvement in beekeeping arose from a coincidence (as many things in life do). When we finished building our country house in Fokida in 2009, I suddenly found myself in close contact with nature, in an area with many beekeepers. Due to the attractive natural environment I found myself in, I decided to abandon my professional activity in Athens and the capital's environment and engage in something more exotic. I quickly became interested in beekeeping and began to explore this.

In 2014, I began to approach beekeeping tentatively and theoretically. “It would suit you,” a former colleague told me unexpectedly when I mentioned my interest in beekeeping. Another thing I noticed was that the vast majority of beekeepers in the region and in Greece have beekeeping as a second or even third occupation and source of income. Seeing the impact of the product in my immediate environment, as well as the demand abroad, I came up with the idea that such a valuable and expensive commodity as Greek honey (and this is not just my opinion) should be better promoted and managed.

Without any beekeeping experience (I was born and raised in Pagrati Athens, which is not known for its beekeeping), I embarked on this journey. Until 2016, the die was cast, I bought my first five hives, which paid the price (or rather, my inexperience) and were lost within the first year. But the decision had been made. The “bug” had gotten to me before I even realized it.

That's when I realized that what I had started as a hobby with the prospect of earning some income had much more to offer than I had thought. The first lost swarms were immediately replaced, and since then they have been increasing every year. 

In a particularly friendly beekeeping environment, our bee farm became a reality. But because Greek honey is not only one of the best in the world, we also have to prove it, so I quickly turned to organic beekeeping.

A small family beekeeping farm was established in Central Greece. Far from the urban environment and intensive farming. And in 2021, it was certified as organic.

We now have 200 hives and are continuing to expand. Fewer inspections, fewer interventions, minimal feeding, and only the absolutely necessary treatments. In short, you disturb them as little as possible. And they recognize this and repay you in their products.

Their honey has already been awarded a gold medal in the BIOLMIEL competition and a platinum distinction in the LIHΑ competition.

 

Certified Organic Beekeeping

A small family beekeeping business with respect for the environment and traditional beekeeping. Our goal is to produce high-quality honey and contribute to the effort to protect Greek honey and give it the place and recognition it deserves in the global market. Our bees work tirelessly in the rich blossoms of Central Greece to achieve the best possible results, with exceptional varieties of honey offered by the biodiversity of the mainland and culminating in the award-winning production of our organic bee farm in Fokida.

our goals

Goals

  • Production of premium quality organic honey.
  • Maintaining all the advantages of limited production.
  • Contributing to the effort to place Greek honey in its rightful place in the international market.
Our tools

Tools

Respect for tradition, continuous training, and constant improvement.

Why should you prefer us?

Why

Due to the EU's lax policy on honey trade, the market is flooded with “honey” of dubious origin and quality at prices that do not even cover production costs. It is labeled as Greek without any real legal consequences for violators, Therefore, the only acceptable solution is to purchase honey from someone who is known to be a beekeeper, i.e., someone who has beehives and is involved in beekeeping, either as a hobby or professionally.

I usually respond that it is better to purchase authentic honey at least once every three months, if finances permit, and reap all of its beneficial properties, than to buy cheap honey from street vendors or “suspicious” offers that are more suited to simple sweeteners than honey.  

Our Journey

Producer's Award 2023

Producer's Award

Platinum distinction for our Organic Forest Honey at the London Honey Awards 2023. The PLATINUM honey award is given to scores between 95.5 and 100. The London Honey Awards is an international honey competition held annually in London. The aim of the competition is to promote the quality of honey and recognize the best beekeeping products worldwide. The products are evaluated by a team of experienced tasters, who rate the honey based on the following criteria: Aroma: The smell of the honey Taste: The taste of the honey Toxicity: The presence of any toxic substances in the honey Purity: The purity of the honey Products awarded in the London Honey Awards competition receive the following prizes: Platinum Honey Award: With a score between 95.5 and 100 Gold Honey Award: With a score between 80.5 and 95 Silver Honey Award: With a score between 65 and 80.

Producer's Award 2022

Producer's Award

Gold Medal at the BIOL MIEL 2022 International Organic Honey Exhibition in Bari, Italy, for Hondos Hellenic Honey's limited-production premium honey, Melichon. The honeys were tasted by an international panel of 12 experts in honey sensory analysis. The competition accepted samples from more than 220 organic honeys, of which 85 were produced in Italy and 140 were produced abroad and certified in accordance with European legislation.

First Organic Certification 2021

our first organic certification

However, there are human activities that not only do not harm the natural environment, but are beneficial to it. Beekeeping, especially organic beekeeping, is one of them. In a world where bees are constantly declining, threatening the food chain and the balance of the planet, we are also doing our part to protect and increase their numbers.

Hondos Bee Farm 2017

HONDOS BEE FARM

In a particularly friendly beekeeping environment, our bee farm became a reality. A small family bee farm was created in Central Greece. Far from the urban environment and intensive farming. We now have close to 200 hives and we are continuing to grow. Fewer inspections, fewer interventions, minimal feeding, and only the absolutely necessary treatments. In short, we disturb them as little as possible. They recognize this and repay us with their products.

First Steps 2016

Our first steps

I bought the first five clusters, which paid for the bride (or rather my inexperience) and were lost within the first year. But the decision had been made. The “bug” had gotten to me before I realized it. Then I realized that what I had started as a hobby with the prospect of income had much more to offer me than I had thought. The first lost swarms were immediately replaced and have been increasing every year since then.

First Meeting 2014

First Meeting

My involvement with beekeeping arose from a coincidence (as many things in life do). Upon completing the construction of our country house in Fokida in 2009, I suddenly found myself in close contact with nature, in an area with many beekeepers. Due to the attractive natural environment I found myself in, I decided to abandon my professional activity in Athens and the capital's environment and engage in something more exotic. I quickly became interested in beekeeping and began to explore the subject. In 2014, I began to approach beekeeping tentatively and theoretically. “It would suit you,” a former colleague said to me one day, when I told him about my interest in beekeeping. Without any beekeeping experience (I was born and raised in Pagrati Athens, which is not known for its beekeeping), I embarked on this journey.