Honey's Romantic Credentials

Honey, long considered the food of the gods, an aphrodisiac and the key ingredient in mead , the tipple of mooning lovers. But honeys romantic credentials go further.

Of course you know that St Valentine is the patron saint of romance, but did you know he is also the patron of beekeeping, charged with ensuring the sweetness of honey and protecting beekeepers. 

Then there is Cupid, the god of desire and erotic love in Roman classical mythology, he also has a taste for honey. The National Gallery collection includes the famous painting Cupid Complaining to Venus by Lucas Cranach the Elder, Cupid has been stung whilst stealing honey from a hive and is complaining to Venus his mother. The moral of the story - you can't have the sweetness of love without the danger of getting stung. Hear more on the painting from Louise Govier in a clip from The National Gallery Podcast

Drawing on the mythology of the Greek god of love, cupid is sometimes said to dip his arrows in honey before firing them at soon to be love-struck individuals, filling them with the sweetness of love.

Goat's cheese on Peter's Yard Charcoal & Rye sourdough crispbread with our Heather Honeycomb.

So this year treat your valentine to our Long Mynd Heather Honey Mead, available through the Whisky Exchange  , dinner by beeswax candlelight and the sweet taste of real honeycomb and pure honey.