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Some amazing facts about honey and CLIFF HONEY

The When, What and How behind everything we savor is always pretty fascinating. While a lot of speculation is involved when it comes to the history of the famous cliff honey aka Himalayan mad honey, there are numerous sources that provide insight into the history of this ambrosia, so we thought why not share some of that sweet knowledge with you.


Honey: A Tale as Old as Time

Honey has been prized by different cultures for millennia. It was even referred to as the food of the gods as it never perished. It is said that as a child Zeus, the father of all gods and humanity was fed on honey in the cave of Dicte. Pan the Greek was known as the God of beekeeping while Delphi, the prestigious site of ancient Greece is believed to have been constructed by bees.


The Romans even came up with the line:'' May honey drip on you!'' to express their good wishes to another. Honey is still largely used as a sacred element during rites and rituals across the world. Once used as a funerary gift for the dead in Egyptian culture, honey has for long been considered as a sacred element in rites and rituals.

In African Pedi culture, a swarm of bees is seen as a symbol of luck and therefore, bees are never chased away or killed instead they live in harmony with the people. As for the Buddhists in Nepal, they identified three types of sacred nectar: honey, milk and water. The word 'madhu' (honey) is mentioned more than thousand times in the four Vedas.

While mad honey is known as deli bal in Turkish (paagal meh in Nepal ) due to its crazy properties that make you feel lightheaded and euphoric, too much of this sweet nectar is simply not advised. If you would like to know more about the right dosage. Click here.

The reason why Mad honey is not overtly popular is due to its rarity, it can only be bought from Nepal or Turkey. According to this source, mad honey was first mentioned in the Greek chronicle Anabasis by the historian Xenophone of Athens.


Seconds Food History also mentions some other stories regarding Mad Honey. For instance, the Greek army is believed to have discovered and feasted on mad honey along the shores of the Black Sea in 401 BCE. They experienced the effects of mad honey and were fit to go home the next day.


Another famous account of the origins of the mad honey is when the Mithridates VI, the Kind of Pontus, a kingdom by the Black Sea in 97 BCE, used local mad honey in the path of the Roman army. Once the army came upon it, they fell prey to the crazy effects of the mad honey. Since they were having a psychoactive moment, Mithridates took advantage of the situation and slaughtered them. Not cool, right?

In the 16th century, mad honey was imported and used to give the booze an extra kick, the French called it ‘miel fou’ which literally translates to mad honey.

The Gurung and their relationship with Mad Honey


The Gurung live communally and their feasts typically involve the sacred nectar, whether these ceremonies are linked to birth, death or marriage, mad honey is considered to be highly valued amongst these once wandering tribe. This small community appreciates the uniqueness of the red honey for which a sacrifice is required when the harvest takes place. They live in harmony with nature, their main source of income is sheep farming and Himalayan cliff honey hunting.


Sadly many outsiders do not respect the tradition of the Gurung and therefore seek to acquire mad honey only for profit. By disrupting the natural habitat of the giant cliff bees, they are putting the future of this 'wild' honey at stake. Many buyers do not understand why the habitat matters so much.

It is exactly this natural habitat that differentiates the Nepalese Mad Honey from the Turkish one, this unique grayanotoxin carrier is found only along the valley of the Himalayas.


The properties and quality of our Mad Honey differ from others due to the fact that our harvest only takes place once in Spring. The flora and location of the native land of the Mad Honey needs to be monitored to ensure that this precious nectar does not go extinct. As a small team, we believe that empowering the local tribesmen -the Gurung community means paying them a fair price for the honey collection and working hand in hand with the locals to ensure that the tradition lives on. Due to their remote dwellings, the Tamang and Gurung tribes mainly earn cash through honey hunting.


Why Should Mad Honey be protected?


Unfortunately, to the easy availability of all products, nothing is deemed sacred anymore. This is precisely why we take the preservation of the natural home of mad honey bees earnestly.

Sustainability is one of our core values, this is why we make sure to keep the beehives safe from excessive harvesting. Offseason honey hunting will cause irreparable damage to the ecosystem this is why we wait for the best seasons to harvest mad honey and allow the hives to replenish throughout the year.

By minimizing disruption, we ensure that the home of the Apis Laboriosa Dorsata remains safe and we provide guarded protection to the bees' sanctuary.

More about honey bees here.


A Sticky Business

Mad honey hunting is risky process and with the prevailing state of the eco-system, there is a chance that mad honey might cease to exist if people pursue illegal hunting or if they keep purchasing Mad Honey on the black market. Due to the intense labor involved, it is unfair to purchase a pound of honey at 50 or 80 dollars, this is why we have signed an agreement with the Nepalese Government to ensure the protection of this almost extinct form of craft.

''There's a delicate ecosystem that makes this unique honey possible, and without a balanced and careful harvest, the honey supply may not last long.'' Tree hugger



Why Us?

Unfortunately, to the easy availability of all products, nothing is deemed sacred anymore. This is precisely why we take the preservation of the natural home of mad honey bees earnestly.

Sustainability is one of our core values, this is why we make sure to keep the bee hives safe from excessive harvesting. We wait for the best seasons to harvest mad honey and allow the hives to replenish throughout the year. By minimizing disruption, we ensure that the home of the Apis Laboriosa Dorsata remains safe and we provided guarded protection to the bees' sanctuary.

More about honey bees here.






50 Shades of Grayanotoxin

Much more than simple compounds, grayanotoxin is a natural compound that makes the Nepalese cliff honey one of a kind. This powerful neurotoxin is present in our Mad Honey and thus in the rhododendron flowers from which they are collected.



If you don’t know much about mad honey, then you’re most probably unaware of the variety of grayanotoxin that exists. Let’s dive right into it and explore the 50 shades of grayanotoxin. Grayanotoxins are also referred to as andromedotoxin, acetylandromedol or rhodotoxin.

Grayanotoxins are present in the Ericaceae family and most specifically in these plants:

  • Rhododendron

  • Pieris

  • Agarista

  • Kalmia

While the rhododendron is present in Europe or Japan and other parts of the world, with over 750 species. Only the ponticum, flavum and luteum have large amounts of grayanotoxin that can have some effect on the human body.


Grayanotoxin is present in all parts of these rhododendrons, from the stem to the nectar. It is often used in cigarettes and herbal medicines. According to this article ,there are up to 25 varieties of grayanotoxin but not all of them have psychoactive properties. The only three most potent grayanotoxin identified are the following:

  • GTX-I

  • GTX-II

  • GTX-III.

Not Your Ordinary Rhodendron Species


The Nepalese rhododendron species that grow on the majestic Annapurna carry varying concentrations of neurotoxic compounds that are cyclic diterpenes. The concentration varies according to seasons and rhododendron species.

The fact that these flowers are part of the natural habitat of the Apis Laboriosa makes it non-toxic for the foraging bees. On the other hand, bees that are force-fed do not survive after ingesting grayanotoxin.



So, how do Grayanotoxins work?


According to Inverse, grayanotoxin works by binding to voltage-gated sodium ion channels in cells.

Grayanotoxins, whether consumed in mad honey or in any part of the rhododendron, work in the human body by binding to voltage-gated sodium ion channels in cells.


The chemical makeup of grayanotoxin has been identified as a diterpene-a polyhydroxylated cyclic hydrocarbon that does not contain nitrogen. As we mentioned earlier, grayanotoxins bind to voltage-dependent channels of sodium and alter their functions by breaking up the usual pattern of transmission. By blocking sodium channels, calcium ions convert into sensitive cells such as nerve, heart, and muscle cells.



Grayanotoxin II is present in the Mad Honey since the bees forage on rhododendrons which are present along with Annapurna. Since their tiny bodies are in perfect harmony with the ingestion of this compound, Nepalese honey possesses potent properties which are safe for humans to consume.


This is the most basic explanation behind the potency of the Nepalese nectar yet, we kept it simple for readers to get an insight into the making of mad honey. After all, knowledge is power!

Myths


To this day, there are many myths and legends surrounding the mad honey due to its composition. The Persian King Mithridates had apparently defeated his Roman foes by utilizing mad honey combs as bait. Since the troop was having a bit of psychoactive experience, they were easily defeated.

Moral of the story: Mad honey is intended for relaxation and not for waging wars. Like any other food with psychoactive properties, mad honey is consumed as means for relaxation and for enjoyable ‘highs’.


What to know about the grayanotoxin in Mad Honey?

The amazing thing about grayanotoxin is that once it gets into your metabolism it is excreted within 24 hours. So, if you feel slightly nauseous, remember that it will not last for more than a day.


As we emphasized in our FAQs, the best dosage for your first tasting is one teaspoon for medicinal benefits and 2 to more for psychoactive benefits. A gradual increase in intake is your safest bet. Since mad honey takes some time to be ingested, it is best not to be gluttonous in case you don't experience the effects quickly.

The level of euphoria is directly linked to the ingestion of mad honey. The aim when consuming mad honey is either medicinal or recreational. Yet, individuals particularly first-timers should be more careful as the distribution of grayanotoxin is never homogenous within honey. The effects of mad honey depend on several factors such as lifestyle and other psychoactive experiences.


Note: A teaspoon a day will not cause any psychoactive effects but simply boost up your immunity. It is commonly used among the Gurung tribesmen as a sort of health supplement.

Psychoactive users are more likely to know that a small amount of mad honey is sufficient.

As we mentioned in our blog article, Better Than a Pot of Gold, mad honey is not loved only for its psychoactive benefits. It is also used for its health benefits, our customers use it as means to combat anxiety, insomnia and as a booster. Evidence shows that products that contain grayanotoxin can help with hypertension and diabetes.

Love the fast delivery!! Taking since +2 weeks now and it definitely improved my sleep quality and day mood :)))) As I am on other medication, I only take 1 spoon. Taste is stronger than other honeys. I really love it. Thank you.
-BRO W

So are you curious and bold enough to taste this sweet and crazy nectar straight from the Himalayas?

If you're skeptical about its benefits, take a look at our reviews.


Learn more









Smart as can Bee: Discover how honey bee hives function and why our Mad Honey is unique.

Nothing is more delicious than the knowledge of what we consume (though, our Mad honey is clearly yummier!) Honey has been consumed for its medicinal properties for centuries, yet most of us know little about hives and the incredible social structures of hives. From the queen to the workers, we are here to enlighten you on the topic.

Mad honey is produced by the rare giant honey bee Apis Laboriosa; the Himalayan honey bee is known as the world's largest honey bee and measures up to three centimeters in length. Although the Apis Laboriosa was identified as one of the subspecies of the Apis Dorsata, in 2020 the giant bee was affirmed as a full species of its own. Since no interbreeding was detected, the Apis Laboriosa was declared unique. Yet, the organization of Apis Laboriosa honey bees is similar to the other types.

So, if you’re curious about how honeybees function and how hives are organized, read on.

This blog article is based on previous works by the Mid-ATLANTIC and other sources cited throughout the article.


What does not benefit the hive

is no benefit to the bee.

Marcus Aurelius


The Consolidated Efforts of a Micro-society

Honey bees are frequently studied due to the fact they are perceived as regarded as highly social in the animal realm. They live in structured and large family groups, comparable to humans who live in communities. These evolved insects indulge in a nexus that is not seen among most solitary insects.


Honey bees have a complex nest construction particularly among Apis Laboriosa who build their nests at an altitude of more than 3000 meters vertically. Honey bees have not only mastered communication and defense but have also developed a chain of labor that is rarely seen among solitary insects. Honey bees obtain all of their nutritional requirements from a diverse combination of pollen and nectar.

Their colonies are made up of 3 types of adult bees:

  • Workers

  • Drones

  • Queen

Although the queen is referred to as the superior bee, her role is rather limited to reproduction as she is the single sexually developed female qualified for laying eggs.

Thousands of honeybee workers commit their short lives to nest building, rearing, and food collection- tasks that are assigned to me them with respect to their maturity.

It is fascinating that the micro-society of honeybees is identical to the human one where the individual efforts of every hive member contribute to the success of the entire colony.


Matriarchal Organization

Since honey bees have a unique queen, it is unsurprising that they follow a matriarchal structure to allocate tasks and roles in the colony.

However, during the swarming preparations and supersedure, the colony may have more than one queen.

The queens are most reproductive in early summer and can lay up to 1,500 eggs on a daily basis. They stop laying eggs around early October and start all over again in January. A single queen can produce up to 250,000 eggs per year and more than 1,000 000 within her lifetime. (2 to 5 years while the workers and drones typically have a lifespan of 30-60days)



The Making of a Queen

Queen bees differ from the rest of the colony; they have longer frames than the drones and workers and the abdomen is usually more elongated. While the wings of the workers and drones can virtually touch the tip of the abdomen when folded, the queen’s wings cover only part of the gut.

The queen does not possess functional wax glands or pollen baskets. Her stinger is longer than that of the workers, with fewer barbs of a smaller size.


The Production of Pheromones or Identity

As we earlier mentioned, one of the primary functions of the queen is egg-laying, however, she is also responsible for providing a social identity to her hive. The production of pheromones acts as a social bind per se and provides an identity to the bee community.


According to research conducted by the Mid-Atlantic Apiculture Research Centre, being the chief, the queen’s and colony’s worth are determined by her pheromone production and her reproduction abilities which are based on the genetics of the drones with which she mated.

In order to prevent inbreeding from taking place, the queen travels to other drones in flight; she is hard to miss due to the release of a chemical odor known as a pheromone.

Drones are those bees that grow from the unfertilized eggs of the queen and produce male sperm cells that are genetically similar to the egg.


Once she gets back to the hive and is ready to start laying eggs in around two days, the queen feeds on royal jelly gathered by the worker bees. The greater the amount of the food, the better prepared are the beeswax cells where the eggs are stored. Larvae will start hatching from the eggs within three days.





Overthrowing the Queen

Unfortunately, the queen bee does not enjoy her privileges once her secreted substance is no longer deemed good enough. Both the queen and her daughter remain in the hive for a longer bit after the supersedure.

There are three situations that require a new queen:

  • The unexpected death or disappearance of the queen.

  • In case of inadequate queen substance.

  • The preparation of swarming.

As we mentioned earlier, the queen is in charge of the matriarchal organization of her colony hence, yet she is nothing without the female workers. Though the queen is attended to during the laying period, the colony functions as a single unit with a fairly flat structure.

The queen acts as the materfamilias of the hive since she gave birth to every bee of the hive.

The hive is nothing without each bee whose role is predetermined. As English poet Thomas Hood beautifully enunciated: ‘When was honey made with one bee in a hive?’


Fun Fact:

Greek Philosopher and polymath, Aristotle (c.384 B.C. to 322 B.C.) claimed that the chef of the hive is male and referred to the latter as ‘King Bee’ Sacrilegious, right? Yeah, we know. He identified the drones as females for they have no strings and were characterized by their inferiority.

It is only later on that it was recognized that honeybees have female-led societies, thanks to Charles Butler’s work, The Feminine Monarchy.

More on it here.





Drones - A Seraglio of Males

Male bees are the largest in the colony and are usually around in late spring and summer; they neither equipped stingers, pollen baskets nor wax glands. Therefore, their role is rather limited to the fertilization of the queen during the mating period. Once they are four days old, the drones can start feeding themselves albeit they predominantly depend on the female workers for food.



The drones eat three times more than the workers and their presence can even be overwhelming for the colony if they radically increase in number. Drones start orientation flights once they are eight days old.

While queenless colonies allow drones to live in the hive for a longer period, colonies led by queens will usually get rid of drones due to the scarcity of pollen or nectar.


The founding father of the United States, Thomas Paine referred to the drones as ‘a seraglio of males, who neither collect the honey nor form the hive, but exist only for lazy enjoyment.’


Working Ladies

The workers of the bee colony are sexually underdeveloped females that do not normally lay eggs. They are equipped with scent glands, pollen baskets, and food glands which allows them to do all the work in the hive. The workers cater to the needs of the queen, clean and polish cells, and handle nectar. In addition, they guard the colony’s entrance.





They forage for nectar, pollen, propolis, and water however, the workers live for a short period of six weeks in warmer months and can survive up to six months in the fall. These marvelous tiny creatures ensure that the colony is preserved by rearing the new bees in the spring before their demise.


Support Ethical Honey Harvests

Due to the increasing use of pesticides such as acephate, honey bees are at the risk of extinction. By harvesting ethically and once every year, we ensure that bees have the time to mate in the best environment. Unlike Turkish mad honey, our Mad Honey is produced naturally and in a safe, bee-friendly environment i.e. their natural habitat is not in any way altered; the mad honey bees forage on natural sources of food such as the Rhododendron flowers which grow at higher altitudes.

Mad Honey works with the Nepalese local community and the Government to ensure that honey hunting remains ethical and does not interfere with nature’s course.


The honey bee is a fascinating creature it is the perfect mix of elegance and functionality; their role as pollinators is crucial in maintaining a healthy eco-system.


Read more here:





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