When I was told I was going to a “honey tasting,” I thought of a delicious sampling of honey from different flowers, perhaps from two different types of bees: the traditional bee and the stingless bee, also known as the Melipona. Learning more about the qualities of this amber substance? Yes, please! This would be a moment to savor a lot of sweetness too! However, what I had in mind was just the beginning of a fascinating journey into the world of bees.
The Miel Nativa Kaban tasting starts with a “what is honey?” introduction that will make you rethink all your previous knowledge. If you feel lost in space, as I was, consider yourself saved by the bell. Andrea and Rodrigo – founders of Miel Nativa Kaban – are wonderful guides. They will explain where this incredible substance comes from.
After the introduction, we move on to meet the traditional honeybee and then get to know more about the ways of the Melipona bees. Yes, there are many kinds – not just one as I thought – and they’re famous for their medicinal properties. Each species has a different level of specialization, they live in different ecosystems, produce different amounts of honey, and of course, the properties of their honey are also different.
Therefore, we cannot expect two types of honey to have the same color, flavor, or consistency, even if they both come from Melipona bees. In the tasting, I came across honey ranging from pastel yellow to a very dark amber. Some varieties had sour notes that made me pucker my lips and others were so sweet that I just wanted to keep eating.
To tell the truth, the diversity of honey has to be taken to a new level, and I’m not only talking about Melipona bees here but all bees! Here, flowers are key. If they change from one day to the next, so does their nectar. Everything depends on the amount of rain, the sun, and the type of bee.
This information opens the door to talk about the conservation of bees and their ecosystems. At the same time, we take a closer look at production chains and the responsibility of the consumer. Yes, this tasting is about learning through the interaction with honey and little stingless bees.
“Spaces for reflection plant the first seeds of change,” shares Andrea during this moment that invites us to appreciate the diversity of the bee world. Without a doubt, it’s as diverse as the flowers they extract their nectar from.
Calle 53 #505 x 60 y 62, Centro
Inside Plaza Carmesí
Sat. and Mon. 10 am / July 15 to August 14 (2021): Tue. 5 pm – 7 pm and Sat. 10 am – 12 pm
Price: $350 booking directly or through Airbnb at www.airbnb.mx/experiences/649943
Editorial by Olivia Camarena Cervera
Editorial Assistant
Photography by Olivia Camarena Cervera for use in Yucatán Today.
Esta entrada también está disponible en: ES
