Somewhere between the streams of the Ganga and the Yamuna flowing out into the Indo Gangetic plains, thrives a tight knit community of over 8000 villages comprising 3+ million people. From the towering branches of the Dadap trees that shelter the people from the sharp Himalayan winds, hang beehives formed by the Apis cerana bee species that are native to the land.
The Certified Organic Himalayan Multiflora Honey is the liquid gold found here. Carefully collected and brought to us as a sweet delight - the honey comes straight from bee to bottle.
The hills of Uttarakhand is the haven of floral biodiversity, sprouting an array of medicinal plants and vibrant flowers. As much as it is a delight to our eyes, it is a feast for the bees who are foraging for nectar. Skilled and local beekeepers then collect the nectar that develops into honey in combs hidden in tree and cave cavities.
With early mentions of “madhu” in our Vedas, scientists today attest that when consumed in its pure form, honey indeed has miraculous medicinal properties.
The following are some other features that make our bottle of Organic Himalayan Honey special:-
- Wholly Organic
Most agricultural lands are fed agro-chemicals in large quantities. Not only do these substances affect the plants they are sprayed on, but also the bi-products of vegetation and the birds and bees that feed on them.
However, the fields of flowers, medicinal herbs and plants that stretch across endlessly on the Himalayan plains are devoid of all synthetic pollutants. Agricultural practices in these grasslands do not involve the spraying of chemicals in the form of fertilisers, growth regulators or pesticides. The use of GMOs or Genetically Modified Organisms are prohibited, allowing the flowers that grow, the nectar that is collected and the honey that is produced to be wholly organic, as also certified by the Uttaranchal Organic Certification Agency.
2. Raw and Unheated
Pasteurized honey can increase its own glycemic index which in turn can affect diabetic consumers adversely. As per the National Center for Biotechnology (NCBI), heating honey not only deteriorates its quality but also results in a loss of its essential enzymes and nutrients. Worse still, according to Ayurveda, when cooked, the molecules of honey produce toxins which contribute to health problems such as congestion, obesity, indigestion, respiratory diseases and blood glucose imbalances.
Unfortunately, most of the mass-packaged honey we get in our local stores is preheated and severely processed. While many producers replace honey with sugarcane, corn or rice solutions, many beekeepers replace the honey in the hive itself with sugar substitutes - which adulterates the whole batch of honey produced as well as harms the bee’s health.
The honey we source from the Shivalik hills of the Himalayas undergo a two step process. The local beekeepers engage in age-old eco-friendly honey-extraction methods after which we filter it with a cloth instead of heating it. Though it is a more time consuming process, we believe it is worth it since it retains the goodness and nutrients of honey. It is then bottled and shipped to ensure every spoonful is as pure and fresh as can be.
Please Note: Contrary to popular belief it is natural for pure honey to crystalize and can even crystalize in the hive itself. To test for authenticity check to see if the honey sinks in a glass of water or dissolves in it. The latter is a sign of adulteration.
3. Immunity Boosting
Raw honey is packed with phytonutrients and is antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal in nature. In addition to having immunity-boosting properties, pure honey is also said to act as an antidote to cancer. In current times when the only way to really protect yourself from a contagious virus is to boost your immunity, a cup of pure honey-lemon tea can go a long way.
However, unfortunately, heavy processing of honey kills its natural curative qualities and reduces it to a mere sweet tasting syrup. Thus, it is important we only buy honey from a reliable source.
4. Locally Sourced
The more local you eat, the healthier it is for you and for the planet. Hence, at Conscious Food, we escape the many middle-men food usually gets passed on from, and only curate from amongst the original and local.
The Himalayan Apis cerana Honey is the result of a community-wide effort to bottle honey using eco-friendly methods without disrupting the environment. Reduce your carbon footprint by lowering the demand of foods that need to be shipped from across the world and support your local farmers, scientists and artisans by choosing products that are made in India.
Click here to order your bottle of Certified Organic Himalayan Multiflora Honey today.
