How It’s Sourced?

High up in the mountains of Kiphire district of Nagaland, groups of indigenous men risk their lives to harvest the highly valued wild honey from hives on cliffs. Without wearing any protective clothing, the hunters climb up a ladder made of bamboo and rope carrying basket, a knife and a smoker to sedate the bees before the honey is collected. Behavioral patterns of the Rockbee indicates returning to its original nesting sites and hence it is crucial to harvest from time to time to create spaces for the bees to make their hives.

Rockbee hunting is an extremely technical art form carrying strong religious significance related to various rituals, beliefs and myth associated with it. However with the arrival of Christianity most of the long established traditions have diminished. The community have long relied on oral tradition to preserve a record of the past in the absence of written historical record of Rockbee hunting tradition. Example, the ownership of rock bee sites was essentially based on the initial sighting of the site by a person or group following which a day for the hunt was decided upon and eventually the harvest was shared among themselves. Inheritance of a site, was based on clan or family affiliations and could extend beyond the boundary of the village.

The tradition is carried on for now by the older folks but the art of Rockbee honey harvesting is unlikely to be pursued by the younger generation as inexperience could lead to fatality.

Why Galho Honey?

GALHO Honey stands out as the epitome of pure honey, offering a taste of nature’s finest nectar. Sourced from pristine floral landscapes of Nagaland, our honey is crafted with unwavering commitment to quality and authenticity. GALHO currently works with beekeepers from the districts of Kohima, Phek, Zunheboto, Mokokchung and the Eastern parts of Nagaland. We take pride in our sustainable and ethical beekeeping practices, ensuring the well-being of the bees and our environment.