An Austrian apiarist has admitted being left “speechless” by winning an award just a few years after starting out.
The blossom honey produced by Norbert Lorbeg from Bleiburg – Pliberk was found to be the best of its kind in Carinthia.
Norbert, who received a Golden Bear award at a ceremony held in Klagenfurt, said he was “overwhelmed” as it had been a “mediocre” year.
Speaking to the MeinBezirk news website, he explained: “The weather has been quite cold in spring. However, things improved around Pentecost and the results were great.”
Norbert added: “I’m still speechless since we have been beekeeping for just four years. Four hives developed into 33.”
He emphasised: “Winning a Golden Bear after such a short time is incredible.”
Meanwhile, Josef Lindner from the small town of Kleblach-Lind received an award for having produced what the jury determined to be the best forest honey of Carinthia.
Overall, 350 samples have been evaluated by a panel of honey experts.
The southern state of Carinthia has 560,000 inhabitants. Around 3,400 of them manage honeybee hives.
Overall, there are around 33,300 beekeepers in Austria. Most of them engage in apiculture only in their free time. In 2021, they were in charge of 456,000 honeybee colonies.
Franz Kogler is a beekeeper from the small town of Obgrün, southeastern Austria. On his website, Franz explains: “Between 350 and 400 bees toiled their whole life to create one kilogramme (2.2 lbs) of honey.”
Honey is said to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
