How is Melipona Bee Raw honey produced?

The production of Melipona bee (Melipona beecheii) honey, an ancient Mayan tradition, is limited and artisanal, with yields of only 1.5 to 5 kg per hive per year. This honey is characterized by its high acidity, liquid texture, and medicinal properties, and is extracted from wax pots in stingless hives (jobones).

Key aspects of production:

Species and Origin: Produced by native stingless bees (Xunan kaab in Mayan) in southeastern Mexico and Mesoamerica.

Low Production: Unlike the European honeybee, a stingless bee produces very little honey, making it an exclusive product.

Harvesting Process: Harvesting is done primarily with syringes or droppers to extract the honey directly from the wax pots or amphorae, ensuring hygiene and avoiding harm to the colony.

Honey Characteristics: It is light amber in color, liquid, with a sweet-and-sour flavor and a floral-fruity aroma.

Medicinal Uses: Highly valued for treating eye infections, respiratory problems, gastritis, and wound healing.

Meliponiculture has become an important source of income and a sustainable practice for the conservation of these native species.

The Biological Process of BeesNectar Collection:

Worker bees collect nectar from a wide variety of rainforest flowers. Being smaller, they can access flowers that other bees do not pollinate.

Enzymatic Transformation: Upon returning to the hive, the bees regurgitate the nectar and mix it with enzymes from their digestive system.

Storage in "pots": Unlike the hexagonal wax honeycombs of common bees, stingless bees (Melipona) build ovoid-shaped pots of cerumen (a mixture of wax and plant resins or propolis) to store the honey.

Maturation and Fermentation: Due to its high moisture content (around 25-30%), the honey undergoes a natural fermentation process inside the pots, giving it its characteristic acidic flavor and greater fluidity.

Human Management (Meliponiculture)
Human intervention to obtain this honey follows traditional techniques, especially on the Yucatán Peninsula.

Housing in Hollow Logs: Traditionally, they are raised in hollow logs (sealed with stone or wooden plugs) or in modern wooden boxes designed for their management.

Careful Harvesting: Extraction is not done by centrifugation. The meliponiculturist must individually pierce the wax pots, generally using a sterile syringe or carefully pouring the contents to avoid harming the colony.

Limited Production: A melipona hive produces only between 1 and 2 liters of honey per year, making it a scarce and highly valued product.