Honey is the star of the show at Miel El Colmenero. Since 1949 they have been serving the neighbourhood of Chamberi with very high quality fruit and vegetables, deli fare such as cheeses, cured meats and olives; cakes, cookies, bread… all sorts really. But all these things play a secondary role to honey.

There are about 15 sorts of honey to choose from – strong to mild, sweet, more bitter, soft or runny. The bees have collected their pollens from almond, chestnut and orange blossoms, rosemary, thyme, lavender and avocado… It’s hard to choose!

This is slow shopping so you might have to be patient – when I first came to Spain all the shops were like this one. No slinging packets into a trolley – you had to ask for each item, and it could take a while! At Miel El Colmenero it is still the way you shop – and it’s a great chance to practise your Spanish! We are always running around, but sometimes it’s great to just enjoy an experience like shopping the old-fashioned way.

So if you are in the neighbourhood, perhaps having a drink at La Mina or visiting Sala Canal Isabel, make sure you stop by, support a small local and very traditional business and stock up on some delicious honey!