The Atlas Obscura Podcast Tasting the World’s Most Unique Honeys with Marina Marchese
Apr 2, 2026
Marina Marchese, beekeeper and trained honey sommelier who authored The World Atlas of Honey, leads a globe-spanning tasting. She explains honey terroir and how soil, climate, and bees shape flavors. Listens to unusual varieties from mad honey to bitter Sardinian strawberry tree and savory Yemeni cedar. Short, sensory-filled scenes of tasting and beekeeping life.
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Learn Honey Tasting From A Program
- Train your palate using formal honey education to move beyond generic descriptors like "yummy" and learn specific tasting vocabulary.
- Marina studied in Bologna where Italy's program pairs chemical and pollen analysis with expert tasting panels.
Egyptians Floated Hives To Follow Blooms
- Ancient Egyptians practiced advanced beekeeping, moving hives on barges along the Nile to follow blooms.
- They used bee products like propolis and beeswax in mummification, which helped preserve bodies for millennia.
Terroir Defines Honey Flavor
- Terroir shapes honey the same way it shapes wine, combining soil, climate, plant life, and even bee traits to create distinct flavors.
- Marina ties terroir to sensory characteristics like color, aroma, and taste that vary by region and season.