The Sicilian black bee (“Apis mellifera siciliana”) has a dark abdomen, yellow down and small wings. Sicily has been its home for millennia, but it risked extinction after being abandoned in the 1970s, as beekeepers got rid of their traditional rectangular beehives made from dried fennel stalks and began importing the Italian bee (“Apis mellifera ligustica”) from northern Italy. The Sicilian bee is docile and very productive, even in hot weather (it can withstand temperatures over 40°C, when other bees stop working) and can tolerate sudden temperature changes.
Season
The honey is available year-round
In 2008 the beekeeper Carlo Amodeo, the last guardian of three genetic lines, raised the alarm about the risk of extinction of the Sicilian subspecies. Today there are eight breeders who have recovered the queens from Amodeo and use his experience to reintroduce the autochthonous subspecies and produce honey.
Production area
Palermo and Trapani Provinces
Presidium supported by
Sicilian Region
Production area
Palermo and Trapani Provinces
Presidium supported by
Sicilian Region
Producers
Apicoltura Carlo Amodeo
Contrada Madonna Diana
Termini Imerese (Pa)
Tel. +39 337 967373
info@apicolturaamodeo.com
Apicoltura Colline del Fitalia
di Giuseppe Scurria
C.da Santo Vito
San Salvatore di Fitalia (Me)
Tel. 339 8821673
apiscurria@live.it
Bergi
di Anna Sottile
Via Santa Croce, 92
Castelbuono (Pa)
Tel. +39 388 8829180
info@agriturismobergi.com
Salvatore Colicchia
C.da San FIlippo, 16
Furnari (Me)
Tel. 338 7015183
salvatorecolicchia@tiscali.it
Emanumiele
di Giacomo Emanuele
Via Cavour, 190
Galati Mamertino (Me)
Tel. +39 347 7181525
giacomoemanuele@tiscali.it
Giuseppe La Mantia
Via Micciulla, 26
Palermo
Tel. +39 338 7553125
compippo@inwind.it
Nettare di Sicilia
di Mario Cirrito
Contrada Cammarella
Caltavuturo (Pa)
Tel. +39 339 1731849
info@nettaredisicilia.it
Sergio Sapienza
Via Villafranca, 26
Altofonte (Pa)
Tel.+39 328 3168910
apisapienza@gmail.com
Susanna Spisso
Contrada Madonna Diana
Termine Imerese (Pa)
Tel. +39 333 2306188
susanna.spisso@gmail.com
Giulio Vitale
Via dell’acquedotto, 10
Mazara del Vallo (Tp)
Tel. +39 347 4853870
aeiouape@gmail.com
Apicoltura Carlo Amodeo
Contrada Madonna Diana
Termini Imerese (Pa)
Tel. +39 337 967373
info@apicolturaamodeo.com
Apicoltura Colline del Fitalia
di Giuseppe Scurria
C.da Santo Vito
San Salvatore di Fitalia (Me)
Tel. 339 8821673
apiscurria@live.it
Bergi
di Anna Sottile
Via Santa Croce, 92
Castelbuono (Pa)
Tel. +39 388 8829180
info@agriturismobergi.com
Salvatore Colicchia
C.da San FIlippo, 16
Furnari (Me)
Tel. 338 7015183
salvatorecolicchia@tiscali.it
Emanumiele
di Giacomo Emanuele
Via Cavour, 190
Galati Mamertino (Me)
Tel. +39 347 7181525
giacomoemanuele@tiscali.it
Giuseppe La Mantia
Via Micciulla, 26
Palermo
Tel. +39 338 7553125
compippo@inwind.it
Nettare di Sicilia
di Mario Cirrito
Contrada Cammarella
Caltavuturo (Pa)
Tel. +39 339 1731849
info@nettaredisicilia.it
Sergio Sapienza
Via Villafranca, 26
Altofonte (Pa)
Tel.+39 328 3168910
apisapienza@gmail.com
Susanna Spisso
Contrada Madonna Diana
Termine Imerese (Pa)
Tel. +39 333 2306188
susanna.spisso@gmail.com
Giulio Vitale
Via dell’acquedotto, 10
Mazara del Vallo (Tp)
Tel. +39 347 4853870
aeiouape@gmail.com
Slow Food Presidium Producers’ Coordinator
Carlo Amodeo
Tel. +39 337 967373
info@apicolturaamodeo.com
Slow Food Presidium Coordinator
Carmelo Roccaro
Tel. +39 348 8601100
carmelo.roccaro@gmail.com
Carlo Amodeo
Tel. +39 337 967373
info@apicolturaamodeo.com
Slow Food Presidium Coordinator
Carmelo Roccaro
Tel. +39 348 8601100
carmelo.roccaro@gmail.com
