We wanted to loop the loop, and look for any trace of apiculture (bee, beehives or honey) on the envelopes in which sugar is supplied together with coffee, tea or infusion. We realize that this is quite difficult as promoting honey in a packet of sugar would have much merit.
But our efforts have been rewarded, and we´ve met a collector of sugar packets, and thanks to his kindness and his superb collection he has discovered us some examples of the presence of bumblebees in sugar packets.
We take this opportunity to ask Enrique J. Garcia Valls for his hobby:
– Any special name for this hobby?
Glucosbalaitonfilia, is the art of collecting sugar packets. It is an invented word that has no accepted as such but many collectors taken for valid.
Do you know any famous or historical figure who collected sugar packets?
No, I do not know any character who will collect them, simply because it is a type of very recent collecting.
– When was the beginning of packaging the sugar in small envelopes?
In Spain, in the late 60s, early 70s, although this could change in some countries, where was initiated earlier or later.
– What is the purpose of including images on the surface of the envelope?
The exact purpose I do not know but may initially be more due to advertising purposes. Currently including images or phrases on the envelopes do more for self-publicity and less for culture. There are some packaging such as the brand Cafe Camel which includes culture as an axiom of their brand, which should be copied by all others.
– How many fans may be in the world for this type of collecting?
In Spain there are many collectors, the number may exceed 300 collectors, and if we’re thinking of France, Italy, … there are many more.
Attached some webs in different countries:
Germany: http://www.zuckerbernie-berlin.com/
France: http://www.annie-glycophile.com/V2/index.php
Netherlands: http://members.home.nl/liesje1/
Italy: http://www.sweetsugarworld.com/
Portugal: http://www.ruichavenas.com/
Czech R.: http://sugar.barok.org/
Spain: http://www.azucarpicasso.com/
– What examples of sugar sachets are most valued?
The envelopes of old series and old envelopes in general. The envelopes have a different value for each type of collector.
– What do you do when you come together in a specific conference on your topic?
Switch between us.
– Are there other collections like those of sugar packets?
Sweeteners collectors, napkins collectors
In the collection of Enrique, one series of sugar packets from US, issued in the 70s, which shows bumblebees together with rabbits and bears.
