Sundarban Honey

Sundarban Honey (Bengali: সুন্দরবন মধু) is a honey from the Sundarbans, which is collected and processed in the South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, India and Khulna, Satkhira and Bagerhat districts of Bangladesh. Since 2024, the Sundarban Honey has been a registered Geographical indication,^[1] referring to the product collected and produced from the Sundarbans within South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. The honey is golden in color, although red or dark brown honey is also available.^[2] This honey is collected by bees from the flowers of various plants within the Sundarbans and stored in the hives; moules or moulis (beekeeper) collect the honey directly from the deep forests of the Sundarbans.^[3]

Honey collectors or moules collect honey every year between March and May, when fishing is prohibited.^[2] Honey collection is a seasonal activity that starts from late March to early June. During this season, most of the mangrove flowers are full of nectar. This attracts rock bees (Apis dorsata) to visit Sundarbans in the month of Magh (January–February), spend their honey-cycle life there and leave it in the month of Ashar (July). Most of the hives in the Sundarbans are made by rock bees.^[4]

In real sense, extensive use and exploitation of the forest products of the Sundarbans, including Sundarban Honey, began by the East India Company. During those times, a large number of people had to depend on the collection of secondary forest products like honey and wax for their livelihood. They collected honey from the deep forests in small groups. Evidence of the use of this important forest product can be found in poems and chants (mantras).^[5]