Honey isn’t just something sweet you drizzle on the pancakes; it comes with numerous health benefits and hidden stories.
Alongside it comes beeswax, a second treasure with uses that stretch from medicine to skincare.
But here’s the thing: not all honey comes from little wooden boxes on farms like you see on the internet. In many parts of the world, people still climb cliffs, hang from ropes, and go deep into forests to collect honey straight from wild hives. It’s a practice full of reward but also full of risk.
This blog provides a lot of information about honey and beeswax, their importance, and how to harvest them.
Honey and Beeswax
Honey is one of nature’s oldest & sweetest gifts. It’s not just sugar in liquid form—it’s packed with goodness and health benefits. Honey can boost energy, soothe a sore throat, help with coughs, heal small wounds, and even support digestion. Many people also use it for skincare because it has antibacterial and moisturizing properties. A single spoon of pure honey feels like both food and medicine(which is not bitter at all) at the same time.
When bees build their hive, they create wax to hold the honey. That wax is just as useful as the honey itself. Beeswax can be used to make candles that burn clean without smoke. It’s used in lip balms, lotions, and creams because it protects the skin and locks in moisture. Some people use it in furniture polish, while others use it for making natural medicines for skincare.
And this is just an overview of their benefits, which are not limited to these.
Types of Honey and How to Harvest It
Honey can taste and look very different depending on the flowers the bees visit. Some are light in color and taste, while others are dark in color, strong in taste. For instance, clover honey, wildflower honey, acacia honey, and buckwheat honey. Each has its own flavor and benefits. You can choose any of these according to your need and make use of them.
Now, let’s take a look at how we can get honey.
There are two main ways:
- Farming (Beekeeping) – Farmers keep bees in wooden hives, where the bees make honey in a safe, controlled environment. This is easier to manage and less risky.
- Wild Harvesting – This means collecting honey from natural hives in forests, cliffs, or trees. It’s much harder, but the honey is raw, untouched, and often called organic honey.
While the farming approach is safer and easier, wild harvesting is considered much more beneficial because the honey is unprocessed, has higher levels of natural enzymes and antioxidants, and wild bees cover a wide range of beneficial flowers and plants.
Precautions & Best Practices while Harvesting Wild Honey
Extracting honey from a natural hive involves potential risks like falling from cliffs/trees, getting attacked by bees, heat, and exhaustion while wearing heavy suits, and the chance of serious allergic reactions. The following are some best practices for your and their safety;
- Wear a full protective suit with gloves and a veil.
- Use strong ropes and harnesses if climbing or hanging from a cliff.
- Never go alone; always have a team to support.
- Work calmly and slowly. Quick movements can make bees angry.
- Try to harvest during cooler hours of the day when bees are less active.
- Leave part of the hive untouched so the bees can continue to live and produce more.
- Use smoke carefully to calm the bees, but don’t overdo it.
- Collect only what you need. Taking too much can harm the colony.
- Respect the environment around the hive. Don’t destroy trees, cliffs, or plants.
- Avoid strong perfumes or dark clothes; bees dislike them.
- Don’t shout or panic if bees swarm around you. Stay calm.
- Don’t harvest in bad weather. Rain or wind makes bees more aggressive.
What to Do If Stung by Bees
Getting stung is always possible, even with protection.
Stay calm and move away from the hive and remove the sting quickly with a flat object (not by squeezing). Wash the area with soap and water. Use ice to reduce swelling. If you have trouble breathing or feel dizzy, get medical help immediately.