Nature’s treasures often come from the strangest places. However, there is one in particular that has become a difficult delicacy to harvest. The honey from Himalayan bees grows on the steep cliffs of this mountain range in Asia and is unique in the world thanks to the psychotherapeutic properties that have been discovered in it.
They have formed hives around the hills where few dare to climb. This product is now known as crazy honey, which hides in the high cliffs of the Himalayas until the last hunter from the village of Kulunga development committee in Nepal comes up to collect it.
The wonderful power of this honey is experienced during spring; At this time, Himalayan bees obtain strange toxins from rhododendron bees. Two to three tablespoons are enough to experience the changes it produces in your mind.
“A sound pulses in your head, like the beehive. You can’t move, but you’re still completely lucid. The paralysis lasts approximately 1 day.” (Jangi Kulung, local honey trader)
A report by National Geographic recounts the risky work of the Kulung to obtain crazy honey. This can be a strong and profound experience for lovers of this honey, who have decided to abandon it due to the risk it implies for both species.
The community decided to suspend the collection of this psychotropic and continue with the harvest until it is a sustainable process for both parties (bees and consumers). This one-of-a-kind honey depends on a very fragile ecosystem. The inhabitants understand that the supply may end soon if they do not act responsibly. Therefore, the honey will be intact for now.
It is possible that later hunters will try again to climb up to the hives full of this powerful and enriching honey. This custom is rich in every sense; It is full of culture, of respect for nature and its most valuable resources.