Forest honeys - Bourbon honey

A beekeeper since 2007, Magdi Fridmann can't stop talking about his passion! An early career in the construction industry had convinced this environmental and civil engineering graduate that his vocation lay elsewhere. "When I was looking for an idea for a new career, a swarm settled in my garden. I had some experience of bees, inherited from my father. It was a sign that I was on the right track!

Magdi went on to train in the four corners of the world, proposing a new way of making honey in La Réunion, more respectful of bees and the environment. This approach is in line with his desire to obtain the Esprit Parc National label. For him, the National Park territory "represents a sustainable resource for my farm and for beekeeping in general. [...] It's an unspoilt area that is home to many as yet little-known melliferous resources". Magdi is one of the few beekeepers to bring hives into the heart of the park, so that these bees can pollinate the endemic and native forests. This approach helps to preserve our local species, while producing a forest honey with a unique taste. The best known is certainly the famous "green honey", which owes all its flavour to Tan Rouge.

Today, the reputation of "Miels de Bourbon" is well established, and their recognition at the Concours Agricole 2023 is a fine message for beekeepers on Reunion Island who wish to commit themselves to more sustainable practices. Magdi and Ananda also promote short circuits, offering beekeepers queens they produce themselves, and selling their honeys at markets and in small local stores.