A Mortal's Gift
This week, I will introduce you to Melissa. She is a remarkable creature that has been flying around the world for ages. Her first sighting dates back to 7000 BC in Spain, but she has to thank the Greeks for her timeless name. Melissa produces a remarkable elixer together with her TWO TRILLION friends who are scattered around 125 countries. This elixer she produces with her many friends is loved around the whole world, people say this elixer has a healing or other magical power. You may wonder, is this Melissa a God? Well, actually she is, kind of...
Meeting Melissa
Me and Melissa met in 2019, I got to know her through the book Mythos of Stephen Fry. The 410 pages in the book are dedicated to the Greek Mythology to which Stephen Fry gives a refreshing twist. The story that I will tell you in minute has always stayed with me and I really think it deserves a spot in our newsletter. At the time I was reading this book I found myself in Morocco where you are constantly in contact with the animal and its product, honey. In the narrow streets of the Medina you could smell the sweet scent of honey from the 2 by 2 pastry shops with bees flying everywhere. This week we will dive into the Greek history of honey. First we will visit the Gods on Mount Olympus and discover how Melissa got her name and fame.
A Bittersweet Deal
Zeus and Hera thought it would be fun to hold a food contest on their wedding day. Whoever should deliver the best dish of whole Greece could ask any wish that would be granted by Zeus. After the wedding ceremony the twelve Olympians and their guests made their way to the table that was decorated with mouth watering dishes. Zeus and Hera went past every dish to see what dish would qualify as the best dish in the whole of Greece. The table was so full with different dishes that Zeus grew tired of the several hours of tasting, Hera already gave up.
Zeus then came along one of the smallest contenders who provided one of the smallest dishes. It was a thick syrup with a golden color, Zeus loves gold so he threw the tiny cup with syrup as a whole down his throat. Immediately he felt a warm energy shivering through his muscular body and the tiredness of all the tasting was gone. The elixer had a sweet yet warm taste. Zeus immediately knew; the creator of this elixir shall be the winner.
A creature so small he couldn’t see it with his hawk eyes landed on his hand and told Zeus she was the one who created this elixer. This creature was Melissa. ‘What are you and what favor do you ask?’, said Zeus.
A Rude Demand
So Melissa told her story: ‘My name is Melissa and I am a bee who is able to make nectar. I worked 12 hard months to produce this tiny amount of nectar. You see, almighty Zeus, my work is very intensive. All sorts of animals and creatures are preying on my nectar because of the sweet smell and I have nothing to defend myself with; like a snake has its poison and a bear has its claws. "That is my wish father Zeus, I want a deadly weapon so I am able to defend myself and my nectar..
First of all, Zeus hated granting wishes. Second, he didn’t like the tone of Melissa. From his point of view the wish was a monstrous demand, a talent like Melissas should be shared out, not jealousy hoarded. But a promise is a promise... especially if you bare the name Zeus.
Backfired
So Zeus came to a solution. He told Melissa: ‘You will become the queen of a whole colony of bees so you are able to produce nectar for the Gods in large quantities. I will also grant you a sting that is fatal and painful BUT.... Zeus continued, ‘while it will bring a sharp pain to the one you sting, it is to you and your kind that it will bring death.” Immediately after Zeus ended his sentence Melissa felt a strange movement inside her. A long thin, razor sharp pin erupted from the end of her abdomen. With an angry hum, Melissa flew off. That is the story of how nectar became the drink of the gods.
Drink of the Gods?
Drink you say? So they actually drink the nectar? Let's follow the path down Mount Olympus and mingle with the Greeks so that we can discover the uses of honey for culinary purpose.
The Greeks consume yearly around 4.5 pounds (of kilo) of honey per person. Honey along with olives and grapes formed the beginnings of the Greek gastronomy. As of today Greece is still seen as the best honey producer in the world. This is because of its rich history of bee-keeping and because Greece holds the record of the most beehives per acre than any other country. Next to that, Greece is a country where there is almost unlimited sun. Because of these endless sunbeams the biodiversity and vegetation is full of life. Botanists consider Greece as one of the richest countries when looking at the nature. There are 850 flower species that are unique to Greece. I think you get the picture why Greek honey is the best honey in the world, Greece is heaven for bees.
Simple but Efficient
The Greeks had many ways of implementing honey into their culinary crafts. The most common usage of honey was honey water, so yes they actually drank the honey. Honey water is exactly as it sounds, honey blended with water. The Greeks drank this because they believed that honey had special healing powers. For instance, it would give you a stronger immune system and energy boost.
Another famous Greek way of using honey is by making a cake. Honey cake is the oldest recipe in the Greek history, the cake has its first remark in Athenaeus’ Deipnosophistae 180 BC. Traditionally these cakes were being offered to the Gods as a kind of sacrifice. This didn't last long, soon enough the people found out how incredibly delicious this cake was and began eating it themselves. There was no way that Zeus could get angry about it because he himself said that everyone should be able to enjoy this wonderful product, right?
Farewell
This is where we part ways with Melissa. It was a pleasure for me to introduce Melissa to you. I hope you will introduce her to many others and tell her story. In addition, I also hope this story has inspired you in such a way that it will contribute to the preservation of the bee. Next time when you find yourself accompanied by a bee in your personal space think about the story of Melissa and just let it buzzzz....
In quest to taste
the sweetness, once
I plucked the honeycomb.
Only when the bees
Stung me, I understood
there's no ecstasy
without agony.
// In pursuit of happiness
Kavisha