Myanmar has many mountains, valleys, rivers and forests. It lies in the monsoon region of Asia. The northern regions of Myanmar are coolest with average temperatures of 21°C. The coastal and delta regions have an average of 32 C.
It is an ethnically diverse country with 135 distinct ethnic groups. More than a hundred languages are spoken, particularly the Burmese language.
We source most of our honey from upper and middle Myanmar. Our key harvesting areas are Kachin, Chin, Shan, Mon, and Kayin states, and Sagaing, Magway, and Mandalay regions.
Sagaing
Sagaing is in the northwest of Myanmar on the border with India and the Irrawaddy River. It is home to many different ethnic groups: Bama, Shan, Karen, Chin, Kachin, and Indian.
The forested mountainous areas are cooler while the central floodplains are hot and dry. It is densely populated with most people reliant on agriculture and bee pollination benefiting local crops of pulses, oil seed, and jujube trees.
- Collection: 70%
- Harvest: September to May
- Varieties: Jujube honey, multifloral honey, sunflower honey, niger honey, wild herbs and flowers
- Jujube honey – very sweet, amber colour, medium viscosity
- Wild herbs and flowers – sweet, amber colour, medium viscosity
Kachin
Kachin is the northernmost state of Myanmar, bordering China to the north and Tibet to the east. Southeast Asia’s highest mountain is here: Hkakabo Razi (5,889m), forming the southern tip of the Himalayas. Kachin has one of the largest remaining dense forests in South Asia, the Khakaborazi National Park.
Honey provides income opportunities to families who have depended on hunting, foraging and shifting cultivation for generations.
- Collection: 5%
- Harvest: November to February
- Varieties: Multifloral honey
- Floral to fruity flavour, amber colour, medium viscosity consistency
Magway
Magway is an arid region in central Myanmar along the sacred Irrawaddy River. Agriculture is the economic backbone for many villagers. Farmers grow sesame crops, producing sesame honey known locally for treating coughs.
- Collection: 5%
- Harvest: June to July
- Varieties: Sesame honey
- Mild flavours, amber colour, thick viscosity
Mandalay
Mandalay, or Pan Myo Taw, is known as the flower city. Most of the area is covered with wild sunflowers against a background of rolling hills and red soils. Niger seeds are grown here and increasingly, more sunflower seeds to increase edible oil production.
- Collection: 5%
- Harvest: November to January
- Varieties: Wild sunflower honey, niger honey
- Sunflower: Sweet and floral, amber colour, extra light
- Niger: Bittersweet, floral and smoky, amber colour, medium viscosity
Shan State
Shan State is a mountainous area with a favourable climate and fertile land perfect for growing niger, an important oilseed crop. Honey bees are the pollinators of the niger flower. Its striking yellow flowers are an abundant food source for bees.
- Collection: 5%
- Harvest: November to January
- Varieties: Niger honey
- Bittersweet, floral and smoky, amber colour, medium viscosity
Kayin State
Kayin State has 500,000 acres of rubber plantations. It is the main livelihood for farmers. Honey bees feed on the rubber flowers and help with pollination.
- Collection: 3%
- Harvest: March to May
- Varieties: Rubber honey
- Medium sweet flavour, subtle aroma, amber colour