Nirra

Nikolas and his team firmly believe that honey is a natural treasure and harvest it with care in its pristine raw form.

Discovery

Nirra is one of the wonderful surprises our Magic Cabinet team gets when small producers approach us. The packaging was of high quality with a flavour to match it.

Inspired by the archetypal structure of the beehive society, Nikolas Vlachoudis created Nirra in 2016 in Thessaloniki.

Nirra is the acronym of the names of the people who initiated Nikolas into apiculture.

Their logo, a golden bear, is dedicated το the bears of Northern Greece, one of the largest bear populations in Southern Europe.

Their logo, a golden bear, is dedicated το the bears of Northern Greece, one of the largest bear populations in Southern Europe.

Nikolas and his team firmly believe that honey is a natural treasure and harvest it with care in its pristine raw form. A large percentage of rare honeydew honey is extracted in Greece. Aphids which consume the sap of forest trees, produce this very sweet and concentrated substance on which bees feed voraciously. The honey made by these bees has a stronger taste and minerality, a darker colour and more intense nutritional value than other honies.

The honies are packaged in glass jars covered with a handcrafted lid made of solid beech wood connoting that the product was produced in the forest.

The whole process from the harvesting and extraction to the packaging is done by hand.

Nirra honey is produced in limited batches so that its supreme quality is ensured.

Nirra produces four premium honies: pine, wild oak, chestnut and a forest honey. For A Magic Cabinet we have selected their pine and forest varieties.

Nirra does not pasteurize or heat their honey and it is extracted below 35°C, which is the temperature normally found in a hive therefore their therapeutic enzymes and exquisite aroma remain intact. The raw honey is unfiltered so as to retain the beneficial pollen residue and organic materials. After, it is collected from the beehives, it remains in maturation and clear glass for five to ten days and then is bottled.

The raw honey is unfiltered so as to retain the beneficial pollen residue and organic materials.

Memory

A former hairdresser, Nikolas is currently studying Agronomy. He followed apiculture courses at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki where he gained valuable experience of producing high quality products. Nikolas was raised in a family who were environmentally aware thus installing in him a love for nature. He began his career producing honey for friends and family, it is now his way of life.

Narration

Nirra is based in Pylaia, in the eastern part of Thessaloniki while their beehives are part of the Natura 2000 network, settled in the Chalkidiki area. Pesticides are forbidden here and the place is known for its reach biodiversity offering the honies a rare flavour and supreme quality.

From April till November, the bees are driven through these verdant terrains and relocated every thirty five days so that they gather the delicate honeydew.

According to Nikolas, every activity related to nature and dependent on weather conditions has many difficulties, but the world of bees is really amazing.

When they are about to launch a new product, they quote Albert Einstein “Imagination is more important than knowledge”. And they have plenty of it, says Nikolas.

Chalkidiki is considered to be the “motherland” of honey. In every part of the region, there are colourful beehives, leafy hills and forests. Aristotle, born in Chalkidiki, praised the nutritional value of the honey stating that it prolongs life.