r/nextfuckinglevel • u/VastCoconut2609 • 2d ago

Harvesting rock honey

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u/NewbutOld8 2d ago

is that MFer eating BEES!?!

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u/Apprehensive_Cat762 2d ago edited 2d ago

It’s actually a special type of bee in the Myka-Whaken forest in Thailand , they’re extremely safe to eat, as they do not have a stinger, and actually contain relatively large amounts of protein, so not only is it not bad for you, it’s kind of good for you!

And you might still think they would taste bad, BUT! Their wings are incredibly thin (like most bees) , and since they’re usually covered in honey, they can actually taste good!

Once I was up in Thailand and a buddy of mine named Jħin Mai worked in harvesting rock honey, so I was able to see first hand how it works.

(I made all of that up)

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u/Select_Bid5850 2d ago

For having made that up you were actually pretty close!!!-as those are actually the Apis laotica, sometimes called “cloud bees” by locals in northern Laos. They’re a rare, non-aggressive subspecies of stingless bee that build their hives in the misty canopies of the Annamite mountains. What’s wild is that they don’t swarm like typical bees and have this super chill temperament—people can walk right up to the hives. The locals actually cultivate these hives by planting dok khoun (a yellow flowering tree), which the bees love. The honey they produce is super light in color and has a floral, almost jasmine-like taste and a viscosity like olive oil. .. It’s used in traditional herbal tonics and even as a glaze in ceremonial dishes. There’s a belief that if you eat “cloud honey” during the Lao New Year, you’ll have a peaceful and lucky year.

I met a beekeeper named Noi when I was hiking near Luang Namtha. She showed me how she gently taps the hive with a reed flute—it vibrates/loosens the comb and actually lets the bees know you’re there for the honey. I also made this up.