What makes Mexico’s honey special

Honey came early to Mexico, appearing its second time in Mexico (its first being what became Israel). Mayans produced honey in Yucatán, Campeche, Chiapas and Veracruz over 3,000 years ago. These honeys are ttajonal and dzidzilché floration honeys. You’ll find ttajonal flowers of significant importance in this part of Mexico, the flowers’ image stamped in the region’s architecture and commonly depicted in regional art.

What makes Mexican honey unique is that Milipona bees, the type of bee that produces this regional honey have no stingers. Scientific studies have shown that honey from these stingless bees (called Xunan-Kab in Mayan) offers more antioxidant and inflammation-reduction properties than honey from stinging bees. These bees absorb more of the nutritious properties of the plants than other bees.  Milipona honey is still used in the Yucatan to treat eye, ear, skin, respiratory, digestive, and postpartum conditions. 

Meliponicultura, as the production of honey is known in Mexico, is an activity that is mainly carried out by small producers who feed the bees with care and dedication using rustic natural and Maya techniques and rely on family labor or small co-ops. 

The natural cycles of production of honey align with the rain cycles; the dry months of February to June are the months to harvest the most honey.  In November, the Melipona bee honey producers do an additional collection of honey according to a Maya religious ritual. 

The resulting Milponi honey has more fructose than glucose, resulting in a silky honey that has a slight umami (savory) and acidic notes. Its unique flavor and texture has drawn the attention of international chefs. 

Melipona bees produce less honey and are rarer.  The introduction of the European honey bee in 2011 allowed for vast production. Most Mexican honey today has added honey from the European honey bee (apis mellifera). The resulting hybrid honey from the Yucatan has evolved to be favored in Europe for its unequaled flavor, body, vitamin content, dark amber color, and high quality. 

Honeys in Mexican grocery stores are most often found in the organics section. There you might find chamomile floration honey, which is honey infused with chamomile tea, Azahares honey, buckwheat floration honey, macadamia floration honey or manuka honey, a floration with unique benefits, and each of them, like all honey, represents a uniquely sweet voyage.