As Rudolph Steiner says “Nothing is better for the human being than to add the right amount of honey to his food.” But why stop there? Jump into a jar on a journey across South Africa and find your sweet spot…
We are excited to introduce The Honey Route, a curated road trip by The Bee Effect that takes you into the heart of our African honey experiences. This route celebrates the unique flavours of honey from the country’s varied biomes, highlights sustainable beekeeping, and invites you to explore the ecological importance of bees while indulging in all things honey and immersive experiences with honey bees.
A Sweet Experience from Top to Bottom
Visit farms and shops offering local honey along with honey tasting; or enjoy immersive honey bee experiences with hive tours and always, you indulge in honey tastings that showcase the rich diversity of local honey. Don’t miss out on the spots where you can experience different meads, honey beers, and even mead-based vinegar.
THE HONEY ROUTESouth Africa’s diverse biomes create a unique environment for honey production which an array of honey flavours and experiences.
Buzz by the list of plants that beekeepers feed their bees on, by province – and get a good idea of the flavour influences on the route.
WHAT BEEKEEPERS FEED BEES ON
Honey bees visit the Red Flowering Gum, Corymbia ficifolia in the Western Cape.
Starting from the Limpopo province, you’ll find incredible honey, including Bushveld boekenhout and the popular Buffalo Thorn. The region is also home to watermelon which contributes to some delightful honey flavours, although these aren’t widely available in stores. Other notable flowers creating unique flavours to this area are avocado, citrus, macadamia, and sunflowers.
Every region has honey uniquely its own, what you are reading here is just a tip of the taste you can expect on your journey
In Mpumalanga, you’ll discover cosmos, which can also be found in the Free State, Gauteng, and Limpopo. This province boasts Sweet Thorn and various types of gum trees, such as black ironbark and river gum, which are similarly found in Limpopo and the Free State. In the Lowveld, the availability of lychee, macadamia, avocado, and citrus further diversifies the honey produced. Eucalyptus trees in this area yield a lovely butterscotch-type honey that granulates fairly quickly.
Moving to Gauteng, this province shares similarities with Limpopo but also features Aloe Davyana, producing a unique South African honey that originates from a specific area around Rust de Winter. Fascinatingly, honey production declines sharply just 50 kilometers away, where the same plants yield hardly any honey. A definite sweet spot!
Both Gauteng and North West boast Sweet Thorn and various types of gum trees like the black ironbark and river gum that we mentioned one also finds in Limpopo and the Free State.
In the Free State and Northwest, sunflowers dominate the landscape, alongside Sweet Thorn and Black Thorn (senegalia melifera – so named after the blossoms that smell like honey). The Northern Cape also has these trees and features various types of seed, fruit and vegetable production that can yield honey, along with the unique Namaqualand field flowers.
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), particularly Zululand, features rich inland bushland with plenty of Waterberry trees and a variety of palm species that contribute to the honey produced here. Eucalyptus grandis is also common here. However, many kinds of honey from Zululand and KZN can be tainted with sugarcane flavours because of nearby sugarcane fields which create a molasses-like taste, especially in varieties like macadamia and eucalyptus. Additionally, Mangrove honey, a rare type, has a slightly saltier flavour due to its saltwater environment and is typically harvested after the summer months when flowering plants are plentiful.
SHOW ME THE HONEYThroughout the country, multifloral honeys are prevalent, varying significantly in taste due to the diverse flora
Honey bee visits a Queen of the Night, pollen laden to contribute to a lovely multiflora in the region.
In the Eastern Cape, significant eucalyptus production occurs alongside multifloral varieties. The Langkloof area offers plenty of citrus, and with macadamia trees being increasingly planted, we can soon expect some delicious macadamia honey from there.
Finally, in the Western Cape, there’s an impressive variety of honey available. The honey from the this province is renowned for its distinctive flavours and unique qualities, thanks to the diverse flora of the region. The Western Cape is home to the Cape Floral Kingdom, one of the richest and most biodiverse plant ecosystems in the world. This rich variety of indigenous plants and fynbos, combined with the specific climate, makes the honey produced in this region truly exceptional.
Most provinces have various types of eucalyptus trees, each adapted to different altitudes. You can dip your toes into a wide variety of honey made from these
Honey bee visits a protea in the Western Cape floral kingdom.
A Journey Beyond Honey
Sustainable beekeeping is central to our mission along The Honey Route. Every stop features farms and shops committed to ethical practices that support healthy bee populations and thriving ecosystems. At some stops, you’ll learn about the delicate balance of working with bees, essential pollinators not only for honey production but also for the health of entire ecosystems. The flora unique to each biome wouldn’t thrive without bees, and symbiotically, bees rely on these plants to produce honey.
The Drink of the Gods
One of the exciting experiences offered on The Honey Route is the opportunity to explore the ancient tradition of mead-making. Mead, often referred to as the “drink of the gods,” is an alcoholic beverage created by fermenting honey with water. The process can take months and results in various flavour profiles depending on the type of honey used and the ingredients added during fermentation.
Seasonally, there’s even a chance to extract honey yourself! And for those wanting have a hands-on experience, there’s a honey spot that offers a spread of activities, including making your own lip balm, leather, or wood polish using beeswax. You also have the option to learn the art of mead making and take home a starter kit to begin crafting your own honey wine.
Create a sweet and enriching adventure to explore the wonders of the hive.
CURATE YOUR HONEY ROUTE JOURNEY HERE
The Honey Route isn’t just about honey; it’s about connecting with the natural world and learning more about the bees. Whether you’re a honey aficionado or someone who simply loves the buzz, this route offers a sweet journey through South Africa’s diverse landscapes.
Ready to explore?
THE HONEY ROUTEWith thanks
Much thanks to Inge Austin of The Beeger Picture for her contribution on the forage and honey snapshots in the different biomes.
And to our honey bees, of course!
