Mad honey hunting may seem easy to the viewer as they see the brave hunters but in the real sense, it is very dangerous and needs a lot of expertise. This honey can only be collected by experienced Gurung honey hunters who can safely gather the honey in steep cliffs. The delicate methods and danger have given this practice the title Mad Honey Hunting.
What is Mad Honey Hunting?
Mad Honey or commonly known as Cliff Honey is harvested from high cliffs of Nepal. The entire process of harvesting wild bee colonies or commonly known as the Himalayan Giant Honeybees or scientifically Apis Laboriosa by the traditional means and tools is known as Mad Honey Hunting.
The Origin of Mad Honey Hunting
The use of Mad Honey can be traced back to hundreds, maybe even thousands of years ago. According to many Historical records, the use of this natural sweetener dates back to ancient Greece by several cultures. Instead, Nepal and Turkey do have some roots of Mad Honey and historical records of Xenophon. But the birthplace of Mad Honey Hunting has not been mentioned in history.
An ancient history of Mad Honey was documented in which an elder of Honey Hunting community of Nepal said that the process began approximately 22 generations before him. The initiated the initial honey hunting in Nepal and the process was then transferred to other locations. The area is Lamjung district, and the place is between the remote cliffs. That is why Lamjung is referred to as the Capital of Mad Honey Hunting. The Gurung have been drinking this mystic nectar for thousands of years in the name of their vital health. They claim that it was used as a powerful mood booster that would relax them and even provide them with an energy boost.
The other example is in Northeast Spain where a cave painting discovered in the foothills of the Iberian System Mountain Range shows the prehistoric man collecting honey using a ladder to access the colony of the bees. Hallucinogenic Honey was used in different ways during those ancient civilizations such as medicinal, religious and even recreational purposes.
The Gurung: Fearless Honey Hunters
The Gurung reside in the Lamjung district of Nepal. Originally, they came from Tibet and resided, they were brave and were known as the lionhearted group in Nepal. Most of them are farmers and rely on growing vegetables and rice. They live like recluses with little to no contact with the outside world.
Since agriculture was not enough to keep the community of Gurungs well fed, one daredevil took the courage to lead the team and scale the cliff to harvest the golden elixir from high cliff. The community was soon involved, and they performed the tedious task because they could sell it at good price. The early harvesters did it, so their family and community members could be well fed which later became culture of Gurung Community and was adopted by new generations. Previously it was coined as the “Bhir maha” by the gurungs AKA Cliff Honey, now it’s famous around the world as Mad Honey, Hallucinogenic Honey and more.
These Gurungs are not known by the people around the world until now, but the times have changed. Due to Mad Honey’s high-profile fame, they are getting the long-due recognition they deserve. Now world is slowly realizing the potential that this special nectar holds. With the power of social media, Influencers and digital promotion they are getting the reputation as the honey hunters of the Himalayas.
Gurung communities are the teaching ground of the real heroes when it comes to preserving and passing down the skills to the young generations. They have a profound connection with the Himalayas and familiarity with the landscapes where the rhododendron flowers grow. Hence, you can witness glimpses of honor and pride in their practices. These communities provide valuable insights into the sustainable harvesting of bee nectar and the importance of balancing cultural traditions with conservation efforts.
Mad Honey Hunting Season
The Mad honey hunting is carried out in limited regions of the world particularly in Nepal. Mad honey harvesting is a very important season in the Gurung community, and it is full of excitement and apprehension. This season usually occurs in the spring and autumn months of Nepal when the giant Himalayan Giant honeybees infest the cliffs and crannies of the Himalayan foothills.
The time of the year is important as it coincides with the period when these bees’ collect nectar in rhododendron flowers that add the psychoactive properties to the bee syrup. During this season, Gurung honey hunters are very keen to the signals of nature and the behavior of the bees. The time of harvest is a secret of the bee nectar hunting groups, and generations of wisdom and experience are used to identify the best moment.
They build up anticipation and excitement as they prepare to go on their expedition knowing that the wild bees created, Hallucinogenic liquid gold they gather will not just sustain them but also play a crucial role in their culture.
Steps of Mad Honey Hunting
The Gurung takes great risks to collect the golden sweetener. They hunt with no protective gear and mere flimsy hunting gear. The steps involved in collecting Mad Honey are as follows:
Preparing Equipment
Harvesters prepare the necessary equipment before they set out on their hunt. The equipment includes long bamboo or wooden ladders, ropes and baskets. Also, to calm the brutal giant honeybees, they take smoking materials like dried wood and leaves.
Finding a Hive
Honeybee hives can be found in various locations including cliff faces, tree hollows and rocky outcrops. Honey hunters check these areas carefully for signs of hive entrances such as bees coming and going and the presence of beeswax and honeycomb.
Pre Hunt Rituals
Once the honey hunting process is about to be carried out they worship the nature, the bees and their local god. Even they sacrifice an animal to prevent any incidents from happening.
Use Smokers
Giant honeybees are highly defensive to their nests. When they perceive a threat to their hive, they respond aggressively to protect it. Giant honeybees swarm in large numbers to defend their nest. This means that if the honey hunters disturb a hive, they will face hundreds or even thousands of angry bees. When they feel threatened, they will not hesitate to sting intruders repeatedly. For some honey hunters, these stings can cause severe allergic reactions. Hence, they smoke the dried leaves to distract the honeybees while they fulfil their quest for bee nectar. They approach the hive slowly and quietly to avoid agitating the bees.
Harvest the Honey
With caution, they cut out sections of the honeycomb using a scraper or knife. They handle the cutting gently to avoid damaging the bees or the hive. Be gentle to avoid damaging the bees or the hive. Honey-hunting is teamwork! Once the smoke blankets the cliff, diverting the attention of the honeybees, one hunter gently tips the nest using a bamboo stick. Simultaneously, another hunter stands ready with a lowered wooden basket, poised to collect the precious Himalayan red honey as it slowly drips from the exposed honeycomb.
Conclusion
There remains a topic of debate within the honey hunting community, as some psychedelic honey hunters aspire for their children or grandchildren to receive an education.
In contrast, others are staunch advocates of honey hunting, fearing the influence of Westernization on their offspring.
Unfortunately, young Gurangs do not have a chance to get higher education because of their low economic conditions. Although they get primary education, the schools are distant and not well organized.
As a result, such youths are not motivated to take up a career in honey hunting as they feel that it might not provide them with significant opportunities. This disinterest can be explained. Mad honey has not been given the credit it deserves despite its special attributes.
The potential of mad honey is not well explored and appreciated and is thus not attached to the culture it is based on. Regrettably, not everyone knows how important mad honey is and the economic potential that it might have.
Nevertheless, the whispers are heard about honey hunting and honey hunters, which means that there is a gradual change in awareness.
Though many tourists tour honey hunting sites to see the sites and take honey hunting tours, they usually come during the bad seasons, and this interferes with honey harvesting.
In the current scenario, a considerable number of Nepalese youths are compelled to seek employment abroad due to limited opportunities at home and young Gurungs appear to be following this trend.
It is undeniable that these young individuals often earn meagre incomes abroad, lacking significant skills and higher education and leaving behind their cultural treasure of real mad honey.
