Ajal Tulum Tree Houses
Mayan honey : a medicinal & delicious wonder
Bees at Ajal are an integral part of the ecosystem, and we’ve designed a special area for them and a perfect place to relax, wander around and marvel at the beauty of the jungle ecosystem at work.
Mayan bees are a unique species, endemic to the Yucatan peninsula, harmless but extremely diligent and beautiful to look at – How amazing is nature?
Lean more about the bees, the honey & the history of their Mayan cosmic connection.
Discover a Mayan Tradition
Do you know what melipona bees are, and why they’re so important?
In the Yucatan peninsula, there is a species of stingless bee, also known as melipona bees or Mayan bees, which produce honey to which incredible properties are attributed. The relationship that the Mayans have with this species is very old, and they even assigned a deity associated with the care of their precious bees: Ah Mucen Kab (the one who watches over the bees).
Melipona bees feed on the flowers of the jungle and according to tradition they must be cared for by noble people. Their hives are called “jobones” (hollowed out trunks of different trees), and the meliponas choose the one that they want to live in.
Each jobón, produces about a liter of honey per year, and the honey collection, likewise, is done once a year. It is a delicacy, and one that’s worth waiting all year for!
The Melipona Honey
Surprising medicinal properties
According to Mayan healers, this kind of honey has the power to restore the hun ol (which was the well-being and harmony of the hearts), the Mayans assigned its kinam (vigour, strength and strength):
- Relieves disorders in the digestive system
- Problems in the circulatory system
- Ideal for the respiratory system (especially if you have a cough or sore throat)
- Low immune system
- Calm fevers
- Insect bites
- Eye conditions
- For healing wounds or sores
Additionally, melipona bee pollen has a protein value 50 percent higher than that of other bees. The use of stingless bees as pollinators of the following crops is known: achiote, avocado, coffee, pumpkin, chayote, habanero pepper, mango, cucumber, watermelon, tomato, among others.
Where can you find Melipona honey?
Mayan authentic honey is hard to come by, but you can find it at Ajal! Ask our staff about our honeybee colony, and how you can get a taste of what they produce – its tangy, unique flavor will captivate you.