We all know the culinary term farm to table, or the sustainable food term, buy local, but we hope that you start adopting Hive to Table when on vacation in the Riviera Maya. Mayan families are great cultivators of honey from a local stingless bee called the Melipona. Honey production has a long history in Tulum, and today is helping to build family businesses. Using Yucatan honey shows support for local bee keepers. Knowing the history and cultural significance of the stingless bee makes that teaspoon of honey the best honey you have ever tasted.
Mayan Bee God
Melipona bees (in English they are called Meliponine bees) build their hives in the hollows of tree trunks and branches. This natural beehive is maintained when found in the jungle, but brought to a families home where the honey is cultivated. Honey was first used in ceremonial drinks like Balche and Xtabatun. Thankful for the sweet nectar, the Maya named the bee Xunan kab, which means ‘royal lady’. The bee became a feature in Mayan mythology rising to the level of a god named Ah-Muzen-Cab. Archeologists have argued that the Descending God engraved on buildings n the Tulum Ruins is actually the Bee God Ah-Muzen-Cab but this has yet to be proven.
Today Melipona bees play a large part in the economic well being of the Maya, but also play an important role in the health of the Mayan household. Every home has a tree trunk bee hive and the bees are viewed as pets, yup sacred pets, treated better than any American cat or dog. Honoring the bee god will bring more honey to the family. In reality, Melipona bees produce little honey per year, just under 100 quarts of honey, but the demand for this medicinal honey in Europe has Mayan families growing their collection of bee hives and protecting the sacred bee. Over 80% of local honey is exported to various European countries. In 2012 Yucatan bee keepers rallied to save the bees who were threatened by the introduction of genetically modified seeds. The bees were saved, and Mexico now has a no GMO policy in the country. All of this occurred for the sake of the bee!
Support Local Mayan Families at the Tulum Honey Store
So add a little honey to your coffee, or tea. If you find yourself on the Coba Road, stop into the Honey Cooperative and see all the products that local bee keepers make from their honey. I love the honey shampoo, my friends love the bath soap. If you have a sweet tooth, the honey candies are great. The store is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and then reopens at 4 p.m. so if you miss it on your way to the Coba ruins, more than likely you will can pop in on your back.
Curious about the descending God in the Tulum ruins. Read more about this Mayan Ruin or take the plunge and rent a vacation villa for your next Riviera Maya vacation that is close to the Tulum Ruins.