harvesting the honey

The trees are very high, above the jungle, the trunk is really slippery, the bees are huge… There is no easy job to gather honey. That’s why some skilled honey hunters are needed.

The hunting doesn’t happen like a regular apple harvesting. There is a ritual first, performed by the locals, with a mixed Islamic and Hindu symbolism.

Singers chant ancient prayers to cajole, charm and calm the bees. On moonless nights in February and March, honey hunters climb the tualang trees with smoldering torches, banging them on the branches above the nests. This creates a rain of fire, and as the sparks fall to the ground the awakened and enraged bees take off in pursuit of the embers. The bees become disoriented and remain on the ground until dawn, leaving the nests unprotected. The honey hunters will be able to harvest, and about 1,000 pounds of honey can be gathered from only one tree.