Parisian Honey
Between the north end of the Pont Alexandre III and the Champs-Elysées is a little-known agricultural enterprise employing 140,000 of the most industrious workers in all of Paris. These workers have been busy as bees since they arrived here in June, not so surprising because they are bees. Two days ago marked the first harvest of honey produced in the beehives on the roof of the Grand Palais.
Beekeeper Nicolas Géant at the Grand Palais
In fact, the Parisian bees produce more efficiently (four or five times so) than those in the countryside, due in part to the biodiversity of the capital city — an important variety of flowers, as well as trees such as acacia, chestnut and lime — as opposed to that of the country, where fields dedicated to production of specific crops have greatly reduced the number of flowers.
Another factor is that pesticides and chemical fertilizers are not employed in the municipal gardens, a practice that has decimated the bee population of the countryside. The mortality rate for bees in the country is 30% to 50%, as opposed to 5% in the city.
Of an estimated nearly 300 declared hives in Paris (exclusive of the wild hives found in trees and chimneys), perhaps the most celebrated are those on the roof of the Opéra de Paris. Since 1983, the bees of the Opéra have produced a golden nectar with a price to match: 15€ for 125 grams, or 120€ the kilo, sold exclusively at the boutiques of the two Paris opera houses and by Fauchon at place de la Madeleine. Despite the elevated price, there remain only 7 jars of 600 delivered in July to the boutique of the Opéra Garnier.
You will have to wait until next year to sample the honey from the Grand Palais. Afer the encouraging result of the first year’s harvest, three new hives will be added, with an anticipated production of 500 kilos.
(Photo Credit: Stephane de Sakutin, AFP)
Jan del Monte, blogging from the rue du Cherche-Midi, Paris, France
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There is also the bees at the Opera house. I was told Fachon sells their honey. True?
Yes, they are still selling it there, as long as supplies hold out. If you note the price (in the post), I think it’s a bit beyond my means for daily use, but it makes a nice souvenir.