What makes the honey from the mountains of Nepal so rare? For centuries, mad honey has been harvested in the mountains of Nepal and Turkey.
Bees produce mad honey in the mountains of Nepal and Turkey. This type of honey is rare but highly demanded by people who live in the area. Nepalese mad honey is redder than the regular variety. It also has a bitter taste compared to the honey most people are used to.
What Is Mad Honey?
Mad honey from Nepal and Turkey is honey that bees make from the nectar of several species of rhododendron. The most common ones are Rhododendron luteum and Rhododendron ponticum, which is why mad honey contains naturally occurring grayanotoxins from rhododendron nectar.
The species of rhododendrons that cause bees to produce this type of honey usually grow at high altitudes. To gather the honey, you would need to make dangerous climbs. Many people in Nepal die while trying to hunt the honey or suffer from severe bee stings.
Eating Too Much Mad Honey
Eating more than 5 g a day can cause dizziness, nausea, cold sweats and low blood pressure. If that happens, stop, drink water and rest; if symptoms are severe, call 112 or see a doctor.
Things to Remember Before Buying Mad Honey
Here are a few things you should keep in mind before purchasing and eating mad honey.
Never More Than 5 g a Day
That is less than one level teaspoon. For adults only.
Who Should Not Eat Mad Honey
Not recommended for children, during pregnancy or breastfeeding, for people with heart or blood pressure conditions, or if allergic to honey. Taking medication? Ask your doctor first.
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding
The Takeaway
Mad honey from Nepal and Turkey is a rare, bitter honey that bees make from rhododendron nectar. Harvesting it takes dangerous climbs, and every batch of Real Mad Honey is tested by an independent laboratory for its grayanotoxin content.
