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“In Frigiliana there is the only cane honey factory in Europe”

Until the 1980s, sugar cane was the most important crop in the province of Malaga. Popularly known as sweet cane, sugar was extracted from it in the classic sugar mills that existed in many parts of the Malaga coast. It was cultivated parallel to the Mediterranean coastal strip, which would ultimately mean its decline, since it clashed with urban planning interests. Finally, with entry into the European Union, cultivation was practically eradicated, except in some parts of Axarquía and the Tropical Coast of Granada. In addition to sugar, other derived products can be obtained from this plant, such as sugar cane juice and cane honey. The first is hardly used today, except in cases such as the production of a craft beer made in Axarquía. The second, however, is one of the best-known products of that eastern region. Today, cane honey is linked to the town of Frigiliana.

In fact, this molasses is still made there today, which is considered the only factory of this product in all of Europe. There they refuse to abandon the transformation of the sweetest cane, which was introduced more than a millennium ago by the Arabs.

Recipes

One of the reasons this product survives is its versatility in the kitchen. In fact, cane honey sneaks into the recipes of both Axarquía and the rest of the province of Málaga. In fact, it can be served to accompany cod omelettes, fried eggplants or even roast meats. It is also used to prepare a wide range of desserts (custards, yogurts) or even with soft drinks or smoothies. In home baking, it is used to make arropía, torrijas, sponge cakes, cakes, canned sweet potatoes, borachuelos, piñonate flower or cookies, among other pastry samples. Since 2013, Cane Honey Day has been celebrated in Frigiliana in April, a festival that aims to highlight this product even more. To this end, in addition to tastings of sugar cane juice and cane honey, there are guided tours of the mill and demonstrations of cutting and grinding the plant.       

Honeys from Málaga

In addition to this molasses, there is also an important production of honey in the province of Malaga. In practically every region there are companies dedicated to this beekeeping sector, although the case of Colmenar stands out especially, which even has a Honey Museum.
In addition to milflores honey, others that are single-varietal are also made, such as avocado, rosemary, thyme, orange blossom, chestnut or forest honey, among others.

Region

Cane honey is a product closely linked to the history of Axarquía. In fact, in its day it took over some 15,000 hectares of land in this region. Today there is hardly any presence of this crop in the province, except for some plots located in the municipality of Vélez. Of course, the only sugarcane processing industry in Europe is still standing, the mill located in the town of Frigiliana, which is also responsible for marketing this product.

Origin

Sugar cane is a plant native to Southeast Asia, but it adapted very well to the climatic conditions of the Axarquía region. It was the Arabs, on the equator of ancient Al-Andalus, who were in charge of taking it to the Iberian Peninsula. Between the 30s and 50s of the last century it was the fundamental basis of the economy of towns such as Nerja, Torrox, Vélez-Málaga or Frigiliana, among others, where there are still some remains of mills that extracted their precious juice from cane.

Properties

Cane honey, taken in moderation like other sugars, is a very complete food rich in easily assimilated nutritional principles. Among them are glucose, sucrose, proteins, calcium salts, ferric salts, vitamin B and other minerals. It must be taken into account that it is obtained in an artisanal way through the perfect concentration of sugar cane juice, once all impurities have been eliminated. In this way, it preserves all the beneficial active elements and vital principles contained in this southern plant.