It has now been almost 25 years since Sébastien Giraudet took over the family business, and sells honey & processed products in Charron. Although he learned his trade from his father at a very young age, he now passes it on to his sons, who help him at certain key times of the year. Meeting with a passionate beekeeper who likes to pass on his know-how.

Sébastien Giraudet welcomes us today to Charron, in his shop at Ruchers de Cybèle. We discover his job and his passion: bees.

Those of Sébastien forage the flowers of the Marais Poitevin. Depending on where his 500 hives are located, he harvests different types of honey: chestnut, sunflower, bramble... Once the honey has been taken from the hives, it must be extracted from the supers, an essential step that takes place in the "honey house" in an artisanal way with a cold centrifuge.

A passionate beekeeper

We are at the end of winter: Sébastien's job is currently preparing the hives. To facilitate the work of the bees, he partially coats the frames with wax. Each year, he thus takes about 20% of the frames of his hives. For 1 month, he will then go around his apiary, check the health of his hives and clean them before the sunny days. We will only open them in warm and mild weather so as not to disturb our future workers. The first daisies are beginning to open, spring is not far away!

100% Marsh hives

We go to see some of its hives present not far from the Port du Pavé. These had unfortunately been hit hard by the Xynthia storm of 2010. Quietly installed on the banks of the canal, a few bees are beginning to emerge from the hives. If they do not hibernate strictly speaking, the swarm groups together near the honey reserves when the temperatures drop below 10 degrees. The first ones come out when the temperatures warm, and the first buds appear.

The next harvest? It will be that of spring honey, always so white and sweet, which will arrive at the end of April-beginning of May.

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Good & organic

In his shop in Charron, there are of course a multitude of honeys, for all tastes: liquid or creamy, sunflower or chestnut, forest honeys... Sébastien Giraudet has always been attached to organic, and is officially labeled AB (Agriculture Organic) since 2020. Which promises us healthy products, to be enjoyed without moderation!

There are also many processed products, by its care or those of partners: mead, royal jelly, beeswax candles, preparation for arranged rum, honey candies, nougat...

Special mention to the fresh gingerbread and the delicious caramelized Florentines! To taste absolutely.

The people here
Written on 03/03/2022
Aurore, budding artist