The Sicilian black bee was born and developed in Sicily until the 70s. It was then abandoned because local beekeepers preferred to import Ligurian bees from the north because they were considered the standard throughout Italy for honey producers. It even risked extinction.
It is a very docile and peaceful insect, so much so that beekeepers carry out the honey extraction with their bare hands. They are much more resistant to extreme temperatures. They are able to produce honey both in winter and in summer at more than 40 °C (limit temperature for other bee varieties).
The Sicilian black bee is very resistant to parasites and pesticides and consumes less honey than other bees.
Sicilian black bee honey is usually extracted by hand and cold. The taste is not very different from other honeys but it has a high content of polyphenols and antioxidants.