In the area where I live, the honey-harvesting season runs from November to January each year. To be frank, I do not agree with the traditional method used to collect this product, as it entails the total destruction of the beehives and is carried out under virtually non-existent hygienic conditions. Let me explain: harvesters typically locate beehives in the wild; once found, they suffocate the bees with smoke—an atrocious, criminal act—before removing the entire honeycomb. They then squeeze every piece of comb to extract the very last drop of honey, collecting it in buckets of questionable cleanliness. Afterward, the honey is strained and poured into glass bottles—containers that are also far from hygienic. The remnants of the honeycomb are discarded in the wilderness; the harvesters claim that these scraps attract new bees—which, of course, happens because the remains are still saturated with substances secreted by the bees.
By employing this harvesting method, the collectors are not only exterminating—effectively murdering—these valuable insects (as they annihilate the queen bee, the larvae that have yet to complete their development, and the vast majority of the worker bees and drones), but they are also acting in a profoundly foolish manner; they discard highly valuable substances, such as royal jelly—a substance consumed exclusively by the queen bee, which has the capacity to alter a worker bee’s DNA, transforming her into a queen. This same substance is also provided in small quantities to the larvae, enabling them to grow up healthy and strong. Furthermore, they discard propolis, pollen, and beeswax. It is an utter waste.
For these reasons, it is always a good idea to buy from apiaries—specifically, those that operate according to ecological standards and are friendly toward both bees and the environment. This means they do not feed the bees sugar, and they respect the natural cycles of honey production, maturation, and harvesting. Such apiaries are also environmentally conscious: they avoid the use of agrochemicals, cultivate and maintain native flora to serve as a food source for the hives, and provide specific plants that produce latex—a substance bees use in the construction of their hives. I have, on occasion, purchased and received honey harvested from the wild; however, after interacting with the harvesters and witnessing the barbaric practices they employ, I have decided to purchase honey exclusively from apiaries.
Late last year, my husband and I searched on Instagram for an apiary that met the criteria I mentioned earlier and offered online sales. We discovered a family-run business that has been involved in this trade for several generations: Le Purissime, based in Valencia, Carabobo State. They maintain hives in Cojedes State—a region with a different landscape, characterized more by plains than mountains—which allows them to offer honeys with a variety of flavor profiles. Their product range includes not just honey, but also pollen, propolis tincture, royal jelly, honeycomb sections, and "royal honey" (a blend of honey, royal jelly, and pollen). At that time, we decided to purchase a bottle of honey, a jar of "royal honey," and a small container of royal jelly—all at a reasonable price (I don’t recall the exact cost, but it seemed fair to us).
Everything arrived via a shipping service, within the expected timeframe, neatly wrapped, and with a wonderful presentation. All the products were excellent. The honey came in a 750 ml glass bottle, along with a 650-gram jar of royal honey and a small 10-gram container of royal jelly.
It is worth noting that for royal jelly, it is recommended to consume an amount the size of the tip of a toothpick per day (much less than a gram); this is sufficient to benefit from this valuable product. The honey was floral, delicious, and pure. Royal jelly is a potent, delicious product in which a wider range of flavors can be discerned. I am also confident that these products were harvested and packaged in compliance with hygiene standards, which is very important.
Here I end my post today, in which I have shared with you the importance of consuming honey that has been harvested in a way that is kind to bees. Greetings.
Image sources
These photos are my own, and were taken with a Xiomi REDMI 9 A phone
Los divisores son cortesía de @eve66 quien comparte bellos diseños que embellecen el maquetado de nuestras publicaciones. // The dividers used are courtesy of @eve66 who shares beautiful designs that embellish the layout of our post.
Todo el contenido, (excepto los separadores de texto) es de mi propiedad y está sujeto a derechos de autor // All content (except text dividers) is my property and is subject to copyright.
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