Honey hunters deep in the Himalayan mountains mostly in Nepal and Turkey, risk their lives to obtain the golden liquid that drips from hives dangling precariously from the rugged and sheer cliffs. The honey hunter in the picture above is Nepal’s Mauli Dhan Rai who became famous as the Last Honey Hunter in a documentary film of the same name.
Called ‘Mad Honey’ or Deli Bal in Nepali for its hallucinogenic properties, it is highly coveted because the reddish sweet goop is known to have psychotropic effects that in small doses are reportedly intoxicating.
Mad Honey, which is not as sweet as normal honey, is produced when the Himalayan Cliff Bee (Apis dorsata laboriosa) – the largest bee in the world – eats the nectar and pollen from Rhododendron ponticum flowers which bloom in the area. These flower species contain grayanotoxins, widely known to be poisonous to humans.
The bee is native to mountainous areas with no or little alteration to its genes since its habitat is largely undisturbed in the Himalayan region. Which is also why Mad honey is extremely difficult to harvest – apart from the sting which can pierce any beekeeper suit, the Himalayan Cliff Bee builds its crescent shaped nests – a single large comb, on rocky overhangs or sheer vertical cliffs at high altitudes. It tends to live anywhere from 2,500 meters up to 4,000 meters (8,200 to 13,000 feet) above sea level. The Cliff Bee is perfectly acclimated to its high-altitude environment. Just one of these semi-circular honeycombs can weigh 60 kg when full of honey!
These bees look similar to the Western honeybee (Apis mellifera), but they’re twice the size – workers can be up to 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) long, according to the Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
High risk honey harvesting
Mountain dwellers especially the Tamu-mai or Gurung people of eastern Nepal, have perfected the art of harvesting this rare honey – a talent that may be on the verge of disappearing forever. Keeping their faith in Rangkemi, the guardian spirit of bees and monkeys, they scale rope ladders 25 metres up the cliff. to break pieces of the comb off, using sharp 3 metre long bamboo sticks. One lapse in concentration means certain death on the rocks below. This honey is a staple for the local villages, highly prized for its medicinal and consciousness-expanding properties.
That’s also why mad honey ranks among the most expensive honeys in the world. It sells for US$ 60 to US$ 80 dollars for a quarter of a kg. In 2017 a documentary was filmed on Mauli Dhan Rai and his honey-hunting craft, called “The Last Honey Hunter” in the mist-shrouded mountains of Nepal’s Hongu River valley. Rai passed away in May 2018. A trailer of this inspirational award winning film by di Ben Knight can be watched on this link (https://youtu.be/FaCkP53Fie8)
Mad Honey is not only known to be a powerful hallucinogen (though there is not much scientific research on this) and recreational drug but also has many medicinal features. The honey is also thought to be effective in treating hypertension, diabetes and poor sexual performance, when taken in small doses.
In small amounts, the honey is intoxicating, giving a feeling of relaxation and a pleasant dizziness and tingling sensation. When taken in larger doses, however, Mad Honey can cause Rhododendron poisoning (or honey intoxication) which is characterised by vomiting, progressive muscle weakening and heart irregularities. It can be highly toxic though no deaths have been ever reported. Mad honey can be purchased in the regions of Nepal and Turkey where it is produced, typically from the beekeepers themselves. It is also available online.
The hunt for this rare psychotropic golden delicacy is a very real threat to the Himalayan Cliff Bee as the increased honey harvesting is unsustainable and their populations are declining. There’s a delicate ecosystem that makes this unique honey possible, and without sustainable harvesting, the existence of the world’s largest bee is doubtful. Another looming threat to the Cliff Bee’s habitat is deforestation.
