Apicultura artesanal

Apicultura artesanal

Beekeeping has historically been an integral part of rural life in Asturias. According to the census conducted by the Marquis of Ensenada in the mid-18th century, a total of 65,813 beehives were documented in the region. The cultural and economic relevance of apiculture is reflected in practices such as the inclusion of hives and apiaries in dowries provided by parents to their daughters upon marriage, as well as in testamentary bequests—such as that of Licentiate Juan Sierra de Castañedo (from the municipality of Allande), who in 1659 stated: “a good hive shall be given to the priest attending my death, and if there are two, each shall take one.” The imposition of wax-based tributes by monastic institutions on Asturian peasants further contributed to the entrenchment, expansion, and institutionalization of beekeeping in the region. By 2007, official records indicated the presence of approximately 25,000 beehives within the Principality of Asturias. Of these, 13,232 were registered under the Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations of the Principality of Asturias (FAPI), and were managed by a total of 776 apiarists. Asturias exhibits an average of approximately 15 hives per beekeeper, with a significant number of practitioners operating at small scale. This pattern reveals a high degree of dispersion of beekeeping activity across the Asturian territory. While the overall volume of honey production may be modest, the ecological benefits in terms of pollination, as well as the high quality of bee-derived products—such as honey, pollen, and propolis—underscore the continued importance of apiculture in the region.

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Intangible

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Apicultura artesanal

13/10/2025

Avila, J. (2022). Los otros apicultores de Taramundi (Asturias). Vida apícola: revista de apicultura, (232), 58-61. Copena, D.(2023). Abejas melíferas y comunidades rurales: una caracterización de los principales elementos patrimoniales en Galicia y Asturias. Cuadiernu: Revista internacional de patrimonio, museología social, memoria y territorio, (11), 121-146. Díaz, E. y J. Naves (2010). Los colmenares tradicionales del noroeste de España. AÇAFA On Line 3: 1-37. López, X. (1994). Las abejas, la miel y la cera en la sociedad tradicional asturiana. Real Instituto de Estudios Asturianos. López, J (2022). Arqueología de la apicultura en la Asturias preindustrial. New Approaches to the Archaeology of Beekeeping, 216.

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Beekeeping is related, for example, to the traditional use of home remedies to treat stings. The most commonly used consist of applying or rubbing the sting area with different substances or plants: sweat from the armpits or testicles; smegma; mud or soil; dung; honey; garlic; parsley; houseleeks (Sempervivum montanum); "millo de rey" (an unknown plant); llantaine (Plantago media), and fern root. Other less widespread remedies included placing a silver coin (Taladriz, Ibias municipality) or sheep dung (Teyeo, Lena municipality). To relieve the pain of stings, infusions of a/triaca (Tanacetum vulgare) were also taken, especially in eastern Asturias. This practice also has a cultural connection with language. Abeyeiro and abeyista are Asturian terms used in some municipalities in the western part of the region to refer to people who keep bees. In Asturias, the word meleiro (honey seller) is used to describe "a person who sells honey," as well as someone with a gentle, mellifluous character who charms with their conversation. Likewise, the term miel (honey) is used to describe people with a soft and kind character, calling them "meixamiel," or applying the saying: "Faiste de miel y cómente les mosques" ("You are made of honey and eaten by flies").

Carmen Pérez Maestro

Management techniques are one of the most crucial aspects of apicultural production, as human capacity to work with bees directly affects the sustainability and productivity of the apiary. In western Asturias, a set of techniques was traditionally known that allowed for the maintenance and expansion of beehives: natural swarms were captured during May and June, and it was also possible to induce artificial swarms when necessary. In March, the old wax at the bottom of the hives—known to encourage the spread of wax moths and hinder proper brood development—was removed. Colonies were fed if required, and finally, a portion of the bees’ harvest was extracted, ensuring that enough was left behind for the colony to survive the winter. By contrast, in the central-eastern areas of Asturias, beekeeping operations were generally reduced to two basic tasks: the capture of swarms in spring—an essential practice to maintain the apiary—and the complete extraction of honey and wax. For this purpose, the heaviest hives were selected, and all the bees were killed in the process. The coexistence of these two extraction methods—one involving partial harvesting ("cutting" or "castrating" the hive), and the other involving total extraction through the destruction of the colony—clearly delineates a fundamental difference between the apicultural practices of western Asturias and those of the central and eastern zones (López, 1994). Abeyeiros (traditional Asturian beekeepers) are drawn to the behavior and biology of bees, demonstrating a profound and often intuitive understanding of the species they work with.

The learning of bee care was done, as with all teachings related to rural life, within the family. The youngest children, who did not take part in the hard tasks, would instead accompany their grandparents or parents to capture swarms in the spring and visit the beehives with them.

Although beekeeping is generally considered a male activity, in western Asturias—where bees play a significant role in the domestic economy and the apiaries are scattered throughout the countryside—it was traditionally an exclusively male occupation. Conversely, in the central and eastern regions of Asturias, it was common for women to take care of hives within their homes. Currently, the majority of practitioners remain men; however, there is also a notable presence of women, with both young men and women actively involved in the practice.

Beekeeping represents an economic supplement or even a primary source of income for some beekeepers, particularly through the production of honey, wax, propolis, and other derivatives. This activity is closely linked to Asturian rural identity and has historical ties to traditional practices. In the context of rural depopulation and the loss of traditional occupations, sustaining beekeeping is viewed as an act of cultural resistance and the preservation of intangible heritage.

Traditional hives in Asturias are vertical and fixed-frame, meaning the combs are attached permanently to the hive body and can only be removed by breaking them. In contrast, modern movable-frame hives feature combs placed in removable frames that can be extracted without damage and then returned after honey extraction. The advantage of the latter system lies not only in harvesting honey without harming the bees but also in the ability to easily inspect and manipulate the colony. Until a few decades ago, more rudimentary methods were used to calm the bees during hive management: a tile with burning dung; a mechón or fumeiro—a bundle of old rags rolled up, which was the most common method; an escacio (an epiphytic lichen) harvested from trees; and oak bark. Nowadays, bellows smokers are employed.

The Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations of Asturias (FAPI) represents beekeepers before official bodies, private entities, and other institutions, advocating for the collective interests of the apicultural community. Additionally, ADAPAS (Association for the Defense of Bees of the Principality of Asturias) works to protect and promote the welfare of bees in the region.

Two specific constructions from this activity, of great ethnographic value, are the talameiros or talameras and, above all, the cortinos, beehives built in the mountains that appear in the western part of Asturias. Both types of beehives were and still are scattered across the sunny slopes of the low mountains and served to protect the hives from fire and bears. At the Beekeeping Museum of Caso, the life cycle of bees and their importance for the natural balance of the planet are displayed, helping to understand the foundations of the beekeeper’s work and the applications of the products obtained. Through its exhibition, one can observe the evolution of hives, the work involved in their preparation, the care they required, and the extraction of honey. Alongside this, there is an interesting collection of tools, utensils, and clothing necessary for beekeepers to carry out their work. The Beekeeping House in Los Mazos, Boal, is a center for dissemination and interpretation related to the art of bee breeding: traditional beekeeping, modern beekeeping, products extracted from the hive, life within the colony... At the Asturias People’s Museum in Gijón, there is also a collection of objects related to traditional beekeeping: hives of different types, honeycomb cutters, smokers, containers for storing honey, and wax presses.

Loss of biodiversity,Invasive species

Reduction of floral diversity. Invasive species—the Asian hornet (Vespa velutina), a predator of bees and a cause of stress in the hives, which reduces food collection. Deterioration of traditional structures for protecting the hives and access to them.

Diminishing participation,Diminishing youth interest,Reduced practice

Insufficient financial resources

No hay suficiestes ayudas por parte de las administraciones públicas para el mantenimiento de la apicultura.

Loss of cultural spaces,Loss of knowledge

Beekeeping in Asturias has a long-standing tradition, with a production structure linked to small-scale operations where self-consumption was a primary purpose of the harvests. This cultural practice is associated not only with traditional and ancestral knowledge and techniques, but also with a rich material heritage, as well as the important role of the "abeyeru" or "abeyeiro", the specialist in this type of livestock.

Truebano, queisieyu o coxedor (se emplea para coger los enjambres que huyen lejos del colmenar o que se posan en la rama de un árbol), ahumadores de fuelle o soplón, cortadeiras, esmielgadoras o jegras empleadas por los abeyeiros están formadas por un mango y una hoja de doble filo y curva. Recipientes para almacenar la miel, trobos da mel o truébanos del miel, si son de madera y olla, el puchero, la tarreña, la xarrina y el pucherín si son de cerámica.

Its main role is the maintenance of ecosystems and biodiversity precisely through entomophilous pollination carried out by the beekeeping population. Its environmental contribution can be measured both by an improvement in the final agricultural production, in quantity and quality, and by its contribution to the maintenance of biodiversity. No other livestock sector uses natural resources as sustainably while simultaneously providing environmental benefits and supporting rural areas, thus contributing to their maintenance and development. Therefore, it is an example of a Sustainable and Environmentally Beneficial Production Model, understood as one in which economic interests (production of honey and hive products that provide profitability to beekeeping operations), social aspects (settling populations in rural areas where there are hardly any other economic activities), and the environment (not only respectful of the environment but also providing a service to society through the pollination of our fields) converge.

Contributing to the maintenance of the vegetation layer in our environment, to the production of pastures, apples, blueberries, chestnuts, cherries, etc

Beekeeping represents an economic supplement or even a primary source of income for some beekeepers, especially through the production of honey, wax, propolis, and other derivatives.

Zero Hunger,Good Health and Wellbeing,Affordable and Clean Energy,Climate Action

Toda la provincia de Asturias

Activities organized by the two associations (see the organizations section).

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