Mad Honey: Himalayan hallucinogen Honey

Planet Earth is full of mysterious psychedelic ingredients and compounds with different benefits that we use to treat multiple diseases. The most common materials come from marijuana plants and users smoke them in a cigarette or in a bong. However, there are more special substances out there to know, and in this case, we are going to discover the history and properties of mad honey, the liquid gold of the Himalaya.

What is mad honey?

Mad honey is a special type of reddish honey with a bitter taste that is only present in high altitudes like in cliffs in the Himalayas. The ones in charge of harvesting this honey have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world: people call them “honey hunters.”

First, these Gurung honey hunters smoke out the bees to later hang by a handmade bamboo-rope ladder from the cliffs to collect honeycombs with a 12-foot-long stick. This hunting is a tradition and part of their culture, in fact, they’ve been doing this for centuries, and still, it has been 30 years since a honey hunter lost his life.

What’s the difference between mad and regular honey?

The special peculiarity about mad honey is the way it’s produced. This kind of honey is made by the largest bee species in the world: the Apis laboriosa or Himalayan giant honey bee.

These bee species feed on a specific Rhododendron plant that grows in really high altitudes (up to 10.000 ft above the sea) and that contains a neurotoxin in its nectar, which is responsible for why people call this honey “mad.”

How is it produced?

When hunters come back to their village, they strain the collected honeycombs to extract the golden product. A 30 oz jar of this exquisite and unique honey has a price of about $300. A more than fair price knowing the risks these honey hunters take every day of their lives.

Unfortunately, the call of adventure and the rising popularity that this product has achieved in recent years has led to many outsiders to go and try to get their own honeycombs, endangering the traditions of the Gurung people.

And to top it off, climate change is causing flowers to bloom unpredictably, and natural disasters are reducing the Himalayan giant honey bee population. An awful situation that hopefully will improve.

Uses and properties

In regards to the uses and medicinal properties of mad honey, the thing is that scientists are still researching the possible effects of this liquid gold. However, the Himalayan people have been using this hallucinogenic honey as a natural medicine for thousands of years.

Thus, they think that this honey has healing properties as they use it to cure some respiratory issues, as an antiseptic or even as an aphrodisiac, among many other benefits. But, what we know is that the consumption of this honey produces dizzy, euphoric sensations that help with concentration and eases sleep.

Is mad honey legal?

Despite being possible to purchase online, mad honey is illegal in other countries and territories such as South Korea, India, Mexico, Canada, Australia and Brazil; but not in the United Kingdom, Turkey or in the United States, where it is legal to buy.

If you are thinking of buying a jar of this honey, we recommend to always check the current prohibiting laws in your area, as you would do with any other psychedelic substance. However, if you can’t buy it, but still want to try food with high therapeutic properties, we recommend you to take a look at our CBD Gummies category.

GB has provided this article to expand our readers’ knowledge regarding hallucinogenic Himalayan honey. We are not recommending nor inciting its consumption. If you liked this article, visit our blog to learn something new everyday.