Thursday, 1 May 2025

Honey: A Sacred Substance in Mayan Culture

 The Vital Role of Bees in the Ecosystem

Bees are insects that play a crucial role in sustaining life on Earth. They are fundamental to global food security, as they are primarily responsible for the pollination of numerous plant species, thereby enabling their reproduction. In addition to their ecological function, bees provide a variety of valuable products such as honey, royal jelly, and pollen, as well as other hive derivatives including beeswax, bee venom, and propolis.

Moreover, bees contribute to therapeutic practices such as apitherapy, which the use of apitoxin- bee venom- for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. This practice is employed in the treatment of various conditions, including arthritis and rheumatism, among others.

Honey, in particular, is widely recognized for its numerous health benefits. In ancient Egypt, it was used both as a natural antibiotic and as a culinary ingredient. Among the Mayan civilization, honey held not only nutritional but also profound spiritual significance. It was considered a sacred substance, and traditional medicine. Mayan healers employed honey to treat respiratory and digestive ailments, alleviate pain, and remedy bites and stings from other animals.

In addition to its consumption in its pure form, honey is also incorporated into a wide range of culinary preparations. Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, its consumption contributes significantly to overall well-being.

However, bees are currently under threat due to a range of factors, including the use of pesticides, climate change, and the loss of their natural habitats. In response to the urgency of their conservation, the United Nations designated May 20th as World Bee Day, with the aim of raising awareness, promoting understanding, and encouraging actions to protect bees and other pollinator species.

Globally, there are more than 20,000 known bee species, most of which are solitary or live in small groups of fewer than five individuals. These bees typically do not construct large hives, making them less visible and often overlooked. The United States is home to the greatest diversity of bee species. Nevertheless, according to data from Statista, Zambia holds the highest number of organic beehives worldwide, followed by Brazil and Mexico. In terms of total honey production, China remains the leading producer in the global market.

Beekeeping in Colombia

Colombia, located in the heart of the tropics, offers optimal conditions for apiculture. In the Andes Mountain range, specifically on the Samaria farm in Melgar, Tolima, one finds the La Aura apiary and meliponary. There, the owners rescue bees from rural areas and relocate them to strategically placed hives within a natural environment rich in flowering trees and plants, thus providing an ideal habitat for their development.

Gerson Vargas, director of the La Aurora apiary and meliponary, explains that Apis mellifera, the stinging European honeybee, is bred in their apiary. In contrast, their meliponary focuses on the care and cultivation of native stingless bees, such as Tetragonisca angustula (commonly known as Angelita) and Melipona beecheii, the latter of which was considered sacred by the Mayans. Melipona honey is highly valued in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly for ophthalmological treatments.


In addition to their work as beekeepers, Vargas and his family contribute to regional development by generating employment and promoting environmental awareness. The honey and related products produced on their farm are marketed in various Colombian cities, and their marketing department is currently seeking to expand into new markets, with the goal of bringing the unique flavour of their honey to consumers beyond national borders.

Another key initiative promoted by the La Aurora apiary is apiturismo- a form of ecotourism centred on beekeeping. The site welcomes groups of visitors interested in learning about bees and exploring the floral inventory that surrounds the hives. Tourists are invited to immerse themselves in the world of apiculture by using specialized protective equipment, ensuring a safe and enriching experience.

The Social Organization of the Hive

  • The queen, the only fertile female in the colony, whose sole function is to lay eggs.
  •  The drones, whose primary role is to mate with the queen.
  •  The worker bees, which perform a wide range of tasks, including foraging- the collection of nectar from flowers, which is then processed and transformed into honey.

Types of Honey and Its Production

Vargas explains that in apiculture, floral calendars are used to determine the flowering periods of plants to the location of the apiary. These calendars help optimize honey production by aligning it with the availability of nectar. There are two primary types of honey.

  • Monofloral honey: This type of honey is produced in apiaries where hives are situated within a single crop, such as citrus or acacia plantations. Examples include orange blossom honey (from citrus groves) and acacia honey.
  • Multifloral honey: This variety is harvested from hives placed in areas where bees collect nectar from a wide range of flowering plants, resulting in honey with a distinctive blend of aromas and flavours.

Beekeeping and Public Engagement

Beekeeper Gerson Vargas speaks passionately about his work and the efforts carried out at his apiary and meliponary. Through social media platforms -particularly Facebook- he actively shares information about beekeeping and the critical importance of bee conservation.

The Colombian poet Enrique Alvarez dedicated a beautiful poem to the bee. I would like to share the translation with you.

Miniature of the sovereign forest,

and darling of the garden and the breeze,

she crosses fields in search of what she needs,

never forgetting her distant hive’s chorus.

From valley floor to mountaintop she flies,

in agile, ceaseless, rhythmic dedication,

she comes and goes -like fleeting meditation-

within the hive of the human mind’s skies.

What she gathers from the chalice of the flowers,

she brings back to her narrow little cell,

and without rest, she labours through the hours,

unaware, alas! That in her aimless flight

she bears the honey that will sweeten life,

and the white candle for the final night.


Bibliography:


By Isabel O'Donoghue at

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