Discover Apis laboriosa, the Himalayan giant honey bee that makes the world’s rarest — and possibly intoxicating — honey. Learn how it’s collected in Nepal and what science says about its hallucinogenic reputation.
What Is the Himalayan Honey Bee (Apis laboriosa)?
Apis laboriosa — the Himalayan giant honey bee — is the largest honeybee species on Earth, with workers growing up to 3 cm long.
They build enormous open hives on vertical cliffs at altitudes above 2 000 m across Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet. These colonies produce substantial amounts of wild honey, sometimes up to 60 kg per season.
Traditional Honey Hunting in Nepal
In the foothills of the Himalayas, ethnic Gurung communities have practiced honey hunting for generations. Using handmade bamboo ladders and ropes, harvesters climb dangerous cliffs, using smoke to calm the bees before cutting out parts of the honeycomb.
This breathtaking yet perilous ritual has become both a cultural heritage and a vanishing art due to environmental change and modernization.
The Truth About “Mad Honey”
The spring honey harvested from Apis laboriosa is famously known as “mad honey.”
It contains grayanotoxins, neurotoxic compounds from rhododendron nectar. These toxins can cause dizziness, nausea, hypotension, and — in rare cases — a mild hallucinatory or intoxicated state.
Scientific studies describe these effects as toxic and neuroactive, not psychedelic. Nonetheless, local healers and hunters prize small doses of mad honey for its supposed medicinal properties — from boosting stamina to relieving pain.
Both the bee and its collectors face mounting threats. Habitat loss, deforestation, and climate change have reduced wild colonies. Traditional honey hunting is also impacted by tourism and commercial exploitation.
Protecting Apis laboriosa is crucial not only for biodiversity but also for preserving a unique Himalayan cultural tradition.
The Himalayan honey bee and its legendary “mad honey” bridge the worlds of nature, science, and mythology.
While its intoxicating reputation adds mystery, the real story lies in the courage of Nepal’s honey hunters and the fragile ecosystems they depend on.
References
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Pollinator.org — Apis laboriosa: The Himalayan Pollinator from Nepal
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CABI Digital Library — Mad Honey: Food, Medicine or Toxin?
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PMC — Antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Apis laboriosa honey
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BigThink — Mad Honey: The Rare Hallucinogen from the Mountains of Nepal
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Earth Island Journal — Nepal’s Embattled Mad Honey Bee
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University of Florida, EDIS — Himalayan Giant Honey Bee, Cliff Honey Bee (Apis laboriosa)
Photos: Adam Adams
All photos were taken in the Annapurna region of Nepal.