For a short time each spring, bees in certain parts of the world add some extra ingredients to their honey, giving it a tripist twist. By collecting nectar from the rhododendrons that bloom at this time of year, they mix their sweetener products with specific toxins that cause various interesting effects when eaten by humans. Known as “crazy honey”, it has been explored by some for its supposed sedative properties, although overeating can cause dizziness, hallucinations, nausea, and a variety of cardiac effects. It has been harvested from beehives of various species of bees around the world, including the Himalayan cliff honeybee (Apis dorsata lebariosa) and is considered an aphrodisiac, among other things.
For this reason, it is especially popular among middle-aged men suffering from sexual performance-related problems. These abnormal properties are caused by a chemical called granotoxin, which is present in the nectar of rhododendrons. Although it is not considered fatal to humans, they can produce many symptoms such as hypertension and are thought to be capable of killing some animals.
Despite the traditional therapeutic use of honey in folk remedies, the healing effects of granotoxins have not been confirmed by scientific research. The most prominent, once insane honey in eastern Turkey was responsible for defeating three Roman squadrons who became addicted to it. In the Himalayan region, the honey tradition is traditionally cut by local tribes such as the Gurungs of Nepal, who risk their lives to access bee pets, which are found on vertical sheet faces.
The rewards are great, but each honey contains up to 60 kg (132 lb) of honey. Like all addictions, though, excessive intake is never fun – the video above shows. Indigenous peoples in China, India, and Nepal risk their lives to obtain the golden liquid that flows from certain bees deep into the Himalayan forests. This honey is so valuable that it is attractive all over the world for its attractive properties.
The honeycomb of the Himalayan cliff bee (Apis dorosta lebariosa) results when the largest bee in the world (only 3 cm long) carries rhododendron flower pollen. Highland species have access to flowers that are usually highly toxic to humans. The bee’s genes have changed slightly as its habitat in the Himalayas has been largely unpopular.
