Japanese Honeybees
*First broadcast on September 14, 2023.
Japanese honeybees are wild, difficult to farm, and produce less honey than the Western honeybees used for most commercial honey production. But the multifloral honey they produce has a rich and complex flavor. Caring for Japanese honeybees brings hobbyist beekeepers closer to the profundity and unpredictability of nature. We learn about creative approaches to looking after Japanese honeybees, and about the surprising way they deal with predators.
Japanese honeybees are wild, difficult to farm, and produce less honey than the Western honeybees used for most commercial honey production. But the multifloral honey they produce has a rich and complex flavor. Caring for Japanese honeybees brings hobbyist beekeepers closer to the profundity and unpredictability of nature. We learn about creative approaches to looking after Japanese honeybees, and about the surprising way they deal with predators.
Peter Barakan tries his hand at harvesting honey.
Whereas it's relatively easy to work with Western honeybees, Japanese honeybees are wild and unpredictable.
Japanese honeybees gather nectar from many different kinds of flowers, creating honey with a location-specific taste. Only small amounts are produced, making the honey expensive.