Visit Valencia Like a Local – The Homemade Honey Shop
When you visit Valencia you can’t miss this local treasure. Stepping into the J. Regal Honey Shop at Calle Puerto Rico, 6 in the popular Ruzafa neighbourhood is a genuine blast from the past. This tiny, shoe box of a store is just about as authentic as you can get, offering its artisan products directly to the public exactly as it has been doing since it opened its doors in 1957. I am a regular customer here as much for the products as for the place.
I had the opportunity to chat with the son of the founder, Juan Jose Regal, about their family-run business. He pointed out the photos on the wall of him and his brothers and sisters when they were young helping their father set up the beehives in the countryside of rural Spain in the 1960’s.
Learn all about honey from a local expert
Juan Jose explained how this family tradition of collecting honey is done. I was surprised to discover that it is a mobile enterprise. The Regal’s set up the hives in different locations throughout Spain where the specific flowering plants grow. The hives remain there while the plants are in bloom. Afterward the hives are collected and they move on to the next location. This is repeated for the 7 different varieties of honey that they harvest. The land where they carry out their labours is either privately or publicly owned and they are granted permission to enter before they temporarily set up shop.
When you visit Valencia it’s always nice to take home a souvenir.
The Regals offer a complete selection of apiary products that include: propolis, pollen, comb honey, beeswax, royal jelly, and of course honey. The seven varieties of honey that they sell are: thyme, rosemary, kale, multi-flowers, orange blossom, lavender, and eucalyptus. They all come in a convenient small size, perfect for taking home.
Throughout the years the Regal’s honey has received numerous awards as one can see from the certificates displayed on the walls. I was especially impressed by the Silver Medal won in an international competition in 1961.
In addition to offering high quality honey, the price is even a bit lower than what you will find for similar products in the market and other shops in the neighbourhood. My favourite is the orange blossom honey, but I enjoy having a variety flavours in my kitchen. The next time you visit Valencia, I encourage you to drop by and try them for yourself. And for the total Ruzafa,Valencia experience we would love for you to stay with us at City Garden B&B where we will make you feel right at home. I would love to hear your opinion in the comments section below.
