Having spent almost a decade in the world of tech, I got an opportunity to take a break. I have been fortunate enough to witness such adventurous yet thrilling culture and tradition of native Gurung People. As a software/ web developer myself at Everest Organic Home, I have been working for the brand called Medicinal Mad Honey. A subsidiary brand focusing on Authentic and premium mad honey products from Nepal. I was lucky enough to be part of the honey hunting expedition. It was not simply a journey, but rather, a plunge into the ancient practice where adventure, culture, and nature come to the most fantastic unison. Let me be clear, I was not the hunter myself. Rather, I was part of the honey hunting expedition where I witnessed the ancient practices and age old tradition. Also, it was totally unique to taste the honey straight from the hive.
The Mad Honey before my expedition
Working on the web part of Medicinal Mad Honey, I had gained enough information about the product Mad Honey already. Mad Honey is an ultra-rare type of honey made by the giant Himalayan honey bee (Apis laboriosa) and is collected from the high cliffs of Nepal. The bees gather nectar from flowers of the rhododendron available in the region, as a result the harvested honey contains grayanotoxins. This honey has been used for centuries by Gurung natives for its medicinal values and for its interesting psychoactive properties. Ok, you might have read this on the internet but not the experience I had.
The Mad Honey Expedition Journey
I had been exposed to the pixelated screen for a very long time but as soon as I set my foot on Lamjung, my eyes were already experiencing green lush forest, terraced fields, charming villages, traditional people and a glimpse into the lives of local people. The beautifully decorated hills of Rhododendron, mountains hiding beside high cliffs, cold air breeze, rivers and pristine homes made in villages where children were running and jumping were just amazing . Observing these, I felt a close connection to nature and people. Having just work and home culture, working for 18 hours on screen, my eyes kind of loved what I was seeing. Before I tell you more, check if Mad Honey is legal in your country or region. So you don’t need to worry about the legality before making an order to taste the wild nectar.
The journey started from Lamjung, a beautiful place in the Himalayas. Our adventurers’ team of 12 with three international tourists, guided by seasoned honey hunters, set-off on a journey, which was as much a journey as it is a destination. Let me tell you, sitting for hours and hours on that gaming chair with one hand on a mouse and another on keyword with eyes glued to the screen, my body was not fit for the experience. I faced difficulty at the beginning but you know well that nothing beats willpower, I had to see how those mad bees are harvested with my own eyes. The road was getting harder and harder with the ascend but my willpower is what eased the road, besides we had a good medical team, guides and experts on the field. Seeing the breathtaking beauty and the release of Endorphins and Dopamine, I don’t remember how fast time flew by until we reached the destination of honey hunting.
The preparation of Honey Hunting
The destination was located and marked by the experienced Honey Hunters a day before. So we don’t need to be part of the search party. While we reached with some of the seasoned honey hunters their leader, the main harvester was already there. We were welcomed with warm greetings and locally made liquors. He pointed to a high cliffside which revealed a natural beauty with the view of awesome looking rock walls covered with enormous honeycombs.
These hunters started performing a ceremony. Upon inspection one of the hunters said they do these ceremonies to pay homage to the nature god, god of cliff and god of bees and the ancestors. They pray so that whoever climbs the ladder comes safe, they perform so the gods take care of the climate, wind and prevent any incidents that might happen. They offered flowers, fruits and rice so as to ensure safe hunt. He even mentioned that if a hunter is new they offer Goats to the cliff to prevent accidents.
Honey Hunting Begins
Then came the time of lighting fire, we were guided to some farther place where we could see everything clearly and was safe from those angry agitated bees. They lit a fire to smoke the bees from their honeycombs to calm them. After a few moments a hunter high up in the cliff lowered a rope and started descending slowly, one careful step at a time. No modern tools, no safety equipment, a rope ladder made of bamboo sticks and most of all traditional tools and equipment.
At every step, they proved a fine balance of talent, courage, and tradition. The collection of Mad Honey is a painstaking exercise that requires the knowledge that is handed from generation to generation. A bamboo basket was lowered in the same tradition to the hunter, the hunter used some sort of traditional tools to extract and harvest the mad honey. After collecting a good portion of honey, he ascended in the same old fashion, one careful step at a time. After a while, the gurungs again offered flower, fruits and liquor to the same gods they worshipped as an gratitude for ensuring the safety and safe return of the honey hunter. Thus, the honey hunting is concluded.
After Harvest of Mad Honey
The harvested honeycomb pieces were made available to try for anyone interested in the expedition. We were made aware of the dosage guideline as side effects of Mad Honey comb that can appear after fresh harvest. Later the honey was filtered basically for impurities and filled in a jar and carried downhill.
The highlight of our trip was the tasting of the freshly picked Mad Honey. Its dark amber color and distinct flavor was something I‘d never heard of in a honey before. The first sweetness was replaced by a hint of bitterness which praised its distinctive origin. Indulging in it moderately as recommended created a soft feeling of intoxication and arousal of awareness, fitting in its traditional uses. We stayed there for a few hours to examine and observe the effects and when everything seemed fine we were guided to leave the place.We descended the hill towards our place of stay.
Immersing in Local Culture
Apart from the cliffs, the expedition provided a strong cultural immersion. We took part in traditional ceremonies, tried the local delicacies and talked to the Gurung people, and learned how they were closely related to the land and had sustainable practices. The warmth and welcome spirit of the community did not leave us feeling like a tourist but that of an honored guest.
A Journey Worth Taking
The experience of joining the Mad Honey hunting expedition was a life-changing thing. It was a unique chance to see an old tradition first hand, to learn how humans coexist with nature, and to taste a product that is famous for hundreds of years. I departed from Lamjung with a deep reverence for the Gurung people and their unchanging customs, not just noticing a jar of honey, but a tale of derring-do, culture, and kinship in tow.
If you are the kind who would love to seek an adventure that goes beyond the ordinary then I warmly recommend joining Medicinal Mad Honey’s Mad Honey hunting expedition. It’s more than a tour – it’s the Mad Honey hunting experience into Nepal’s incredible cultural and natural treasures.
Written by Milan Bhandari
Sr. Software developer at Everest Organic Home
