Local producer APICULTURA SON FRARE

Apicultura Son Frare is a small family beekeeping farm in Petra (Mallorca), the result of Bartomeu Gual’s passion for bees. What started as a hobby has become a livelihood, and his approach to what he does has led to his status as a master artisan. The hives at Son Frare are populated by indigenous bees, which are naturally fed, and the natural honey that they produce is packaged on site using artisanal methods, with the guarantee of the EsMel brand.  

Bartomeu Gual’s love of beekeeping comes from his family, as his parents also kept bees, though only to make honey for themselves. For Bartomeu beekeeping had always been a hobby, but in 2014 he decided to go a step further and start his own business.

Apicultura Son Frare honey is produced using artisanal methods. Production is limited, to maintain the essence of Bartomeu’s approach, respect the bees and ensure the honey’s quality.  “To make good honey, you need clean, calm, hardworking bees,” he explains.

The main product is raw, natural, unfiltered and unheated honey, just like it used to be. They also sell other related products, such as propolis (bee glue) and beeswax.

Son Frare produces spring honey and autumn honey. They each have their own taste and appearance, as the flowers and plants vary between the seasons. Extraction begins in April, reaches its busiest time in June, and comes to an end in October, before the cold weather sets in.

Bartomeu Gual appreciates being able to deal directly with consumers, as it means he can express his passion for beekeeping and get across how important bees are in our fragile ecosystem. He welcomes visits from schools and individuals, who are welcome to come and take a look at the hives. “We need to recover the natural balance of our ecosystems and crop fields,” explains Bartomeu.

He has a message for us all: whenever possible, buy honey straight from the beekeeper. This will ensure that the honey is high quality and is made from bees who breed and produce on site.