Honey is one of humanity's oldest foods, and nearly every culture has woven it into celebrations, rituals and everyday meals. Here's a tour of honey traditions from around the world.
Spain: ancient rock art
One of the earliest depictions of honey collecting is a rock painting in the Cuevas de la Araña near Valencia, Spain, estimated to be around 8,000 years old. It shows a figure climbing to gather honey from a wild hive.
Egypt: honey for the afterlife
Ancient Egyptians kept bees and used honey as a sweetener, an offering to the gods, and an ingredient in many preparations. Pots of honey have been found in Egyptian tombs.
Jewish tradition: a sweet new year
On Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, it's customary to dip apples in honey to symbolize hopes for a sweet year ahead. Honey cake is also a traditional holiday dessert.
Greece: thyme honey and yogurt
Greek thyme honey is prized for its aromatic, herbal flavor. A classic Greek dessert is simple: thick yogurt drizzled with honey and topped with walnuts.
Turkey: bal kaymak
A traditional Turkish breakfast often includes bal kaymak, rich clotted cream topped with honey, served with bread. Turkey is one of the world's largest honey producers.
Ethiopia: tej
Ethiopia is Africa's largest honey producer and has a long beekeeping tradition. Tej is a traditional Ethiopian honey wine, flavored with the leaves and twigs of a native shrub called gesho.
Yemen: sidr honey
Yemen's sidr honey, made from the blossoms of the sidr (jujube) tree, is one of the most prized and expensive honeys in the world, valued for its rich flavor.
Nepal: the honey hunters
In the Himalayan foothills, members of the Gurung people have long practiced honey hunting, climbing rope ladders down steep cliffs to harvest honey from the world's largest honeybee, Apis laboriosa. Some of this honey, made from rhododendron nectar, contains grayanotoxins and is known as "mad honey." It can cause serious symptoms and should be treated with caution.
Mexico: stingless bee honey
The ancient Maya kept stingless bees, especially Melipona beecheii, and their honey had cultural and ceremonial importance. Stingless bee honey is thinner, more tart and produced in small amounts. Efforts continue today to preserve this tradition in the Yucatán.
Middle East and South Asia: sweets
Honey or honey-based syrups sweeten many beloved desserts, including baklava in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. In South Asian traditions, honey holds a respected place in Ayurveda.
New Zealand: manuka
Manuka honey, from the native manuka bush, has become one of New Zealand's most famous exports, valued for its distinctive compounds and graded with systems like UMF.
China: the world's top producer
China is the world's largest honey producer by volume. Honey is used in teas, sauces and traditional preparations.
United States: honey on the table
In the US, honey shows up everywhere from biscuits to barbecue sauce. Regional honeys like tupelo, sourwood, orange blossom and Hawaiian kiawe reflect the country's diverse landscapes.
What these traditions share
Across continents and centuries, honey has symbolized sweetness, abundance, health and celebration. It's a reminder of the deep partnership between people and bees.
A new tradition
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Each 14g packet is 45 calories, caffeine-free and tastes like vanilla-chocolate.
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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Not for infants under 12 months or anyone with bee or bee-product allergies.
