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Honey Explorer Blog

  • All Articles (101)
  • About Raw Honey (21)
  • Health and Beauty (21)
  • Beekeeper Stories (21)
  • Bees and the Environment (9)
  • Raw Honey Food and Recipes (22)
  • Food and Travel Stories (7)

All Articles

Surprising Benefits of Raw Honey for Brain Health

February 7, 2021

Raw honey has long been prized for its health-promoting and therapeutic effects. In fact, cave paintings...

Wonder fusion

April 2, 2020

Wonder fusion is a unique blend of two of the most potent, immune-boosting honeys in the world -raw Yemeni...

Raw honey to boost your immunity

March 16, 2020

With new threats to our health and how harmful bugs can spread very quickly, it makes sense to look at ways to...

Homemade raw honey cough syrup

September 18, 2019

It’s that time of the year when the first coughs and colds seem to surface. A constant cough can stop you from sleeping...

Back to school – breakfast and lunch-box tips

September 3, 2019

It’s that time of year when school-aged children are starting back for their new semester. Are you one of those parents rushing around...

What do bees do? 4 important ways they help our world

August 21, 2019

We may not notice bees very often as they buzz around our environment but there are...

Homemade honey butter recipe and ideas

August 8, 2019

Welcome to the wonderful world of honey butter. This delicious combination of a couple of ingredients...

Zhug – traditional Yemeni herb and chilli sauce recipe

July 25, 2019

Of all the dips and sauces in the Middle East, this is one that’s a hidden gem. Many mezze that most people know about, like hummus...

Sustainability and honey

July 11, 2019

Sustainability is a word that’s used a lot these days, especially with the world’s climate and...

Green breakfast smoothie with raw honey

June 17, 2019

Green smoothies sound like a good idea but can be a bit challenging to drink. They are...

All about bee pollen and its health benefits

June 9, 2019

We all know that bees collect pollen don’t we, but have you ever thought about what it is exactly? Why do bees dedicate...

Golden milk recipe - the benefits of turmeric and raw honey

May 29, 2019

How to make golden milk, and why turmeric and raw honey are so good for you...

Natural beeswax products that help a community

May 21, 2019

If you’ve subscribed to our Honey Club, you’ll have opened your monthly box to find different types of raw honey plus some nice ...

Quick quiz. Which honey suits your personality?

April 28, 2019

Difficult to choose which of our raw honey is right for you? Take our quick quiz to find out the perfect type for your lifestyle and personality...

Are antibiotics in my honey?

April 18, 2019

When you dip your spoon into a jar of honey do you consider what else might be in there? While some honey is packed with enzymes...

Is raw honey vegan?

March 25, 2019

With so many people starting to eat a vegan diet there are many questions about some ingredients. As a vegan can you eat honey? Some people...

What is ginseng?

March 14, 2019

You’ve probably heard of ginseng and have an idea that it might be good for your health. But what exactly is ginseng, where does it...

Easy, homemade tomato sauce recipe for pasta – with raw honey

February 27, 2019

Hands up if you’re always searching for easy, delicious sauce recipes to pour over pasta. We all need something we can rustle up when...

Benefits and delicious ideas for Raw Honey and Cinnamon

January 22, 2019

For me, you cannot beat the sweet aroma of cinnamon as it wafts through my house on baking day making me feel all warm inside. It...

Burnt honey and yogurt panna cotta with lime syrup, peaches and plums recipe

January 10, 2019

Greg Malouf is one of our favourite chefs as he makes beautiful, simple food focusing on the provenance of the best ingredients. His...

Seven differences between raw and regular honey that might surprise you

December 16, 2018

If you think all honey is the same, these differences between commercial honey and honey that’s labelled raw might shock you. Ten...

After the fire – a Portuguese beekeeper’s story

December 11, 2018

Wild fires raged through Southern Portugal in the summer of 2018 with a devastating effect on agriculture and the landscape. We talked...

Raw honey remedies to combat colds and coughs

October 7, 2018

Is there a more natural alternative to over-the-counter cough and cold remedies? Here’s why raw honey should be the first thing you...

Frequently asked questions about raw honey

October 3, 2018

There’s a lot of confusing and conflicting advice out there especially about raw honey. Plus the labels on jars of honey don’t always tell ...

Yemeni Sidr honey: the health benefits, taste and cost of different varieties

September 27, 2018

There are a lot of claims made about Yemeni Sidr honey which has led to confusion. We’ve been asked about what makes Yemeni Sidr...

Seed Gathering and the Best Plants to Attract Bees

September 23, 2018

Sowing bee-friendly seeds in your garden, terrace or window box can create pollinator havens and help build dwindling numbers of bees...

In the Kitchen with Sally Prosser of My Custard Pie

September 20, 2018

Food and travel writer, Sally Prosser, is a self-professed lover of good honest food. You will find her most weeks during the season at the...

Beekeeping in Ireland. The story behind Finbarr’s special hives

September 16, 2018

We are often asked about the best way to store raw honey so here's a handy guide ranging from which container to use, to the ideal...

The benefits of saffron

September 13, 2018

Blending a spice woven into the history of the Middle Eastern with Balqees Raw Yemeni Sidr Do’ani made absolute sense to Riath...

Caramelised apricot (or nectarine) salad with walnuts and raw honey

September 9, 2018

Stone fruits like nectarines and apricots, which are from the same family, make a tasty addition to a bowl of fresh salad leaves at this ...

rye bread topped with labneh, fresh figs and raw honey

How to find the healthiest bread to go with raw honey

September 4, 2018

Raw honey spread on a slice of bread is one of the nicest things to eat, but how healthy is it? How can you be sure that what you’re are eating...

pears and cherries with some raw honey

Is it best to choose organic honey?

September 1, 2018

Many pots of honey carry the label ‘organic’ these days. If you want to eat pesticide-free foods and keep you and your family...

hand putting jar of raw honey into storage cupboard

How to store raw honey

August 26, 2018

We are often asked about the best way to store raw honey so here's a handy guide ranging from which container to use, to the ideal...

man in Arabic dress by Sidr tree in desert

The story of the precious Sidr tree

August 23, 2018

A well-kept secret, Yemeni Sidr honey is one of the very finest mono-floral honeys in the world. It’s valued highly because of its history...

glass of smoothie made of berries and raw honey

Mixed berry smoothie with chia seeds and raw honey

August 19, 2018

This mixed berry smoothie is a great wake up call in the morning. The slight tartness from the berries combined with the natural...

A field of yellow mustard plants that attract bees

Planting herbs to help bees. An Australian beekeeper's medicinal garden

August 16, 2018

It's early springtime in New South Wales, Australia, which is a busy time for Gabrielle Morley, beekeeper and farmer. She is tending to...

honey, traditional bread, Arabic tea and cardamom pod

Raw honey and Traditional Emirati cooking

August 12, 2018

Honey, or ‘assal’ in Arabic has been used in Emirati cooking since it was harvested from wild bee hives in the mountains of Hatta and...

bowl of apricot and nut salad with ingredients and a jar of honey mustard dressing

Summer salad essential - Healthy Raw Honey Mustard Dressing

August 9, 2018

Calling all honey mustard salad dressing lovers (have you ever met anyone who isn’t?). A good salad dressing recipe is the key to great...

bees on a honeycomb

Fascinating facts about Apis Mellifera - The Honey Bee

August 5, 2018

Opening a jar of raw honey is like opening a gift from nature especially when you know the incredible story of how it's made by the...

gift wrapping of box containing wooden honey pot, honey drizzler and honey jar

Gift ideas for every member of the family

August 2, 2018

Are you racking your brains for original gifts for all the family? Choose something that will be truly enjoyed by the person receiving it...

raw honey on a bedside table

Can raw honey help with insomnia? How to aid natural sleep

July 26, 2018

How are you sleeping? Are you often restless in the night and have difficulty getting a good seven or eight hours of restful sleep leaving...

honeycomb dripping honey into dish

A year in the life of beekeeper in the Western Cape

July 23, 2018

A lot of work goes into producing a jar of raw honey before it reaches the table. We caught up with Adam Harrower, Senior...

beekeeper holding honeycomb straight from the hive in rural New Zealand

What is honey laundering? And how can you avoid fake honey?

July 19, 2018

Honey is the third most adulterated product in the world. Some has sugar syrup or water added as a filler. Some contains honey that has...

small boy eats raw honey from a jar with spoon

Is Raw Honey Safe For Children?

July 16, 2018

Are you a parent wanting to instil healthy eating habits in your child and feed them well? Lots of questions come up when it comes to...

honeycomb dripping honey into dish

Is raw honey the same as organic honey?

July 12, 2018

Pardon the pun, but ‘raw’ and ‘organic’ are the buzz words on the lips of many a honey producer and consumer today. Attempting to...

jars of raw honey in a basket on a beach

How to choose the right honey flavour for you

July 09, 2018

Which raw honey flavour is right for you? Whether it’s floral, forest, light or dark, here is a guide to help you discover your perfect honey...

raw honey in a cave

Why Yemeni Cave Honey is so special

July 05, 2018

Yemeni honey has a reputation as one of the finest in the world. This is because of the land’s vegetation and fertile pasture for bees...

sugar and raw honey on teaspoons

Raw honey and diabetes

July 02, 2018

Many people ask about taking raw honey as a sweetener if they're diabetic, especially as an alternative to sugar. Here are some points to...

books on health and eating, cherries, a pear and a jar of raw honey

How raw honey can improve gut health

June 28, 2018

Chronic gut issues are on the rise. It was reported in the UK’s Independent newspaper in 2016 that Irritable Bowel Syndrome affects an...

make up bag with raw honey

Keep young and feel beautiful with raw honey

June 26, 2018

Eating raw honey keeps us healthy on the inside but it can also help us look and feel good on the outside too....

IS ALL MANUKA HONEY RAW?

June 21, 2018

The short answer is no, but I’m going to explain why a honey that is heralded as the king of honeys, highly medicinal and extremely good for...

WHAT CHILDREN CAN LEARN FROM BEES AND RAW HONEY

June 19, 2018

Children, bees and raw honey have been connected in many ways through the ages – from the benefits of eating the natural goodness of the...

BEEKEEPERS, KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY

June 17, 2018

I am directed to a building off the main square in a small Portuguese town in the hills of the Algarve. I am looking for local honey and have a...

HOW RAW HONEY HELPS MEMORY AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION

June 10, 2018

Do you find after eating certain foods, particularly ones with refined sugar, you lose concentration, feel sleepy or suffer from what is called...

PROTECT OUR HEALTH AND THE HEALTH OF BEES ON WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2018

June 5, 2018

Concerned about the environment? So are we – not only do we rely on bees for our livelihood, but all our lives rely on bees. To mark World...

HOW TO PAIR CHEESE WITH RAW HONEY

June 4, 2018

A hunk of cheese on its own, with fresh bread or a salty cracker makes for a delicious snack, the perfect way to end dinner, or even a meal in...

MANGO SMOOTHIE WITH CHIA SEEDS AND RAW HONEY

May 27, 2018

Homemade smoothies are my daily fuel. Ripe mango with chia seeds and raw honey is a favourite. I love mangoes whether eaten as a fruit or...

HOW RAW HONEY HELPS WHEN FASTING

May 25, 2018

There has been a lot of talk in the past few years about fasting and detox diets in an attempt to eliminate toxins from the body, feel healthier ...

WORLD BEE DAY AND WHY IT MATTERS

May 21, 2018

The number of bees globally are in decline and its being put down to the urbanisation of rural areas, use of chemical pesticides and changes...

RAW HONEY AND RAMADAN

May 18, 2018

The holy month of Ramadan is a very special month in the calendar for Muslims, it’s a time of reflection and connection with one’s faith and ...

UNDERSTANDING THE BENEFITS OF PROPOLIS

May 14, 2018

Honey and beeswax aren’t the only things that bees produce. Propolis is another bee product that, for thousands of years, has been extracted...

IS HONEY GLUTEN FREE?

May 9, 2018

Raw un-adulterated honey made by bees from the nectar and pollen gathered from flowers and plants and produced in the hive is gluten-free. ...

THE BENEFITS OF DATE PALM POLLEN, A BEE KEEPER’S STORY

May 6, 2018

What exactly is bee pollen? It’s the pollen from the flowers and plants that the bees collect and form into little granules to feed the larvae...

WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM BEES

May 3, 2018

Bees have been around for the past 80 million years so there must be a few things we can learn from them. There are around 20,000 species...

WOMEN AND BEEKEEPING

April 26, 2018

Beekeeping has traditionally been a man’s profession. Often taken on by farmers, it can be a tough way of life; battling against adverse ...

WAYS WE CAN HELP BEES AND MOTHER EARTH

April 22, 2018

The world’s bee population is in trouble as numbers are dwindling. Chemical insecticides and fertilizers, pollution, urbanization, disease and...

HOW RAW HONEY CAN HELP RUNNERS

April 21, 2018

While I may not have much first-hand experience in long distance running, many of the beekeepers we work with around the world are...

FIVE BENEFITS OF ADDING RAW HONEY TO YOUR COFFEE

April 18, 2018

Do you like to sweeten your cup of coffee? We all know that cutting our sugar intake is a good thing, but if you can’t face drinking your...

HOW RAW HONEY IS SEPARATED FROM BEESWAX – A BEEKEEPER’S UNIQUE INVENTION

April 12, 2018

Have you ever wondered how liquid honey gets from the honeycomb to the jar, without containing wax? There are several ways (including ...

WHY RAW HONEY SHOULD BE IN YOUR MEDICINE CABINET

April 7, 2018

Raw honey has a home in your kitchen but did you know it also has many therapeutic properties? Raw honey has been used for centuries to...

HIGH COUNTRY HONEY ONLY FROM NEW ZEALAND

March 30, 2018

My mission with Balqees from the beginning was to find the best honeys in the world. Raw and unadulterated they are often located in ...

QUEENSLAND’S QUEEN OF BEES

March 26, 2018

Marie Chapman is one of the few female beekeepers in Australia. She comes from a family of beekeepers but branched out on her own to...

THREE GENERATIONS OF BEEKEEPERS IN NEW SOUTH WALES

March 22, 2018

The Walker family, based at Inverell in northern New South Wales close to the Queensland border, have been in the beekeeping business...

HOW A FEMALE BEEKEEPER IN AUSTRALIA HAS CREATED A HAVEN FOR BEES

March 20, 2018

I meet amazing people on my travels around the world and they all have a story to tell. From time to time you meet someone so extraordinary...

GATHERBY AND AUSTRALIAN MEDICINAL HONEY

March 15, 2018

One usually associates Manuka honey with New Zealand but you may be surprised to know Australia has their own anti-bacterial MGO honey...

WHAT’S GOING DOWN IN CAPE TOWN

March 11, 2018

How do you truly get the ‘taste’ of a city if you only have a few days? I set Suzanne Radford the task of gathering the best of what Cape Town...

FOR THE LOVE OF FOOD AND WHERE IT COMES FROM

February 22, 2018

My love of good ingredients and raw unadulterated honey comes from a family of food lovers. I grew up with eight brothers and sisters and a ...

BACKYARD BEEKEEPING IN THE WESTERN CAPE

February 19, 2018

I’ve been connecting with local bee keepers in the Western Cape of South Africa and Peter from A1 Honey who has been keeping bees for 30...

FYNBOS AND THE CAPE FLORAL KINGDOM

February 16, 2018

When I first tasted honey from South Africa my taste buds got all a ‘zinging’ and I wanted to know more about this area of the world and the...

A Taste of South African Honey - Avocados and Macadamia!

February 14, 2018

Exploring honey in South Africa I spoke with Mokgadi the woman behind Native Nosi. In an industry that is predominantly white and male...

EXPLORING CAPE TOWN’S FOOD CULTURE

February 4, 2018

Suzanne and I first met when she presented the food show on Dubai Eye 103.8 and she invited me as a guest to talk about Balqees...

LOOKING FOR HONEY IN THE HILLS OF THE ALGARVE

January 28, 2018

I head South to Sera de Monchique to explore the mountains in the south west of Portugal and to taste the local honey or ‘mel’ in Portuguese...

PASTEL DE NATA IN BELEM LISBON

January 25, 2018

In the heart of the Belem district of Lisbon the Portuguese custard tart was first made back in 1834 and now around 50,000 tarts are made...

A TASTE OF THE GOOD LIFE IN NORTHERN PORTUGAL

January 20, 2018

So it’s my first time in Portugal and my purpose? To catch up with friends who recently relocated from Dubai who are on a quest to experience...

NEW YEAR AND NEW DISCOVERIES IN 2018

January 8, 2018

There are literally hundreds of different kinds of honey around the world and i’m looking forward to a new year and new discoveries in 2018. I...

THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF WALNUTS AND RAW HONEY

December 31, 2017

A new year and a healthy new you. We know about the health benefits of raw honey and the benefits of walnuts. Put the two together and you...

COMBATTING HIVE THEFT

December 27, 2017

I was surprised to read the news this week coming out of the UK about opportunists taking advantage of the bee keeping market. Thieves...

FOOD AS MEDICINE

December 23, 2017

It seems everywhere I turn someone has a sniffle, tickle, sneeze, wheeze, someone is spluttering or coughing. I attack any symptoms with a...

TRUE TO TASTE BUT IS YOUR MANUKA THE REAL DEAL?

December 16, 2017

In the news, this week New Zealand’s food ministry has announced their plans to further regulate and qualify what is true Manuka Honey. It...

GRANOLA – A TASTY WAY TO START YOUR DAY

December 10, 2017

I’m all over granola at the moment so when my mate Suzanne Radford sent me her ‘Seeing Red’ breakfast pic from Portugal she inspired me...

BALQEES ON THE RED CARPET

December 6, 2017

The 14th Dubai Film Festival gets underway and I’m right chuffed Balqees is a sponsor again giving health and sustenance to the stars. We...

BEE VENOM AND OTHER SORE POINTS

November 29, 2017

Seeking out natural remedies dating back centuries is in vogue these days. If its good enough for ‘Gwynnie’ (Paltrow) injecting bee venom and...

ULTIMATE COMFORT FOOD

November 25, 2017

One of the things I love the most is spending time with my family and especially my mum. Going back to the family home in Sheffield me and ...

EXPLORING FOOD & INGREDIENTS IN BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN

November 11, 2017

Let me take you on a tour of some of the dishes being served in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. First up, lunch with Asylbek Jeenbekov who is the brother ...

WHITE HONEY FROM KYRGYZSTAN

November 10, 2017

Fatima and her son Sultan in Kyrgyzstan have been working with me for the past 4 years, Fatima is well known for supplying the best white...

RARE CATAY HONEY FROM ARGENTINA

November 5, 2017

Catay honey is extremely rare as it is only harvested for two months of the year. Through Luis, a beekeeper in...

A CULINARY TOUR THROUGH NEW ZEALAND

October 11, 2017

Riath Hamed of Balqees Honey heads to New Zealand with Suzanne Radford and Dubai Eye 103.8...

WHY WE SHOULD LOVE AND PROTECT BEES

October 11, 2017

That bees are in decline is in no doubt. There is much debate about the exact cause of their demise due to colony collapse or other means...

BINT AL SAHN (YEMENI HONEY CAKE)

October 11, 2017

What are your most vivid memories of food from childhood? My first ever experience of tasting Yemeni honey started as a child when my...

HOW TO USE RAW HONEY AS A FACE MASK, SCRUB AND CLEANSER

October 10, 2017

It’s not just eating raw honey that’s good for the body. If you’re looking for a more natural beauty routine then raw honey is your friend. The ...

THREE BREAKFAST SMOOTHIES WITH CHIA SEEDS AND RAW HONEY

October 9, 2017

Do you start the day with a smoothie? Pictured is is one of my favourites, a homemade chia seed smoothie (image taken by my daughter...

FINDING THE FAKES. WHY NOT ALL HONEY IS THE SAME.

September 28, 2017

Most people think that all honey is the same, a natural product that’s made by bees, collected by beekeepers and...

About Raw Honey

Surprising Benefits of Raw Honey for Brain Health

February 7, 2021

Raw honey has long been prized for its health-promoting and therapeutic effects. In fact, cave paintings...

Wonder fusion

April 2, 2020

Wonder fusion is a unique blend of two of the most potent, immune-boosting honeys in the world -raw Yemeni...

Natural beeswax products that help a community

May 21, 2019

If you’ve subscribed to our Honey Club, you’ll have opened your monthly box to find different types of raw honey plus some nice ...

Is raw honey vegan?

March 25, 2019

With so many people starting to eat a vegan diet there are many questions about some ingredients. As a vegan can you eat honey? Some people...

Seven differences between raw and regular honey that might surprise you

December 16, 2018

If you think all honey is the same, these differences between commercial honey and honey that’s labelled raw might shock you. Ten...

Frequently asked questions about raw honey

October 3, 2018

There’s a lot of confusing and conflicting advice out there especially about raw honey. Plus the labels on jars of honey don’t always tell ...

Yemeni Sidr honey: the health benefits, taste and cost of different varieties

September 27, 2018

There are a lot of claims made about Yemeni Sidr honey which has led to confusion. We’ve been asked about what makes Yemeni Sidr...

pears and cherries with some raw honey

Is it best to choose organic honey?

September 1, 2018

Many pots of honey carry the label ‘organic’ these days. If you want to eat pesticide-free foods and keep you and your family...

hand putting jar of raw honey into storage cupboard

How to store raw honey

August 26, 2018

We are often asked about the best way to store raw honey so here's a handy guide ranging from which container to use, to the ideal...

man in Arabic dress by Sidr tree in desert

The story of the precious Sidr tree

August 23, 2018

A well-kept secret, Yemeni Sidr honey is one of the very finest mono-floral honeys in the world. It’s valued highly because of its history...

gift wrapping of box containing wooden honey pot, honey drizzler and honey jar

Gift ideas for every member of the family

August 2, 2018

Are you racking your brains for original gifts for all the family? Choose something that will be truly enjoyed by the person receiving it...

beekeeper holding honeycomb straight from the hive in rural New Zealand

What is honey laundering? And how can you avoid fake honey?

July 19, 2018

Honey is the third most adulterated product in the world. Some has sugar syrup or water added as a filler. Some contains honey that has...

honeycomb dripping honey into dish

Is raw honey the same as organic honey?

July 12, 2018

Pardon the pun, but ‘raw’ and ‘organic’ are the buzz words on the lips of many a honey producer and consumer today. Attempting to...

jars of raw honey in a basket on a beach

How to choose the right honey flavour for you

July 09, 2018

Which raw honey flavour is right for you? Whether it’s floral, forest, light or dark, here is a guide to help you discover your perfect honey...

raw honey in a cave

Why Yemeni Cave Honey is so special

July 05, 2018

Yemeni honey has a reputation as one of the finest in the world. This is because of the land’s vegetation and fertile pasture for bees...

IS ALL MANUKA HONEY RAW?

June 21, 2018

The short answer is no, but I’m going to explain why a honey that is heralded as the king of honeys, highly medicinal and extremely good for...

WHAT CHILDREN CAN LEARN FROM BEES AND RAW HONEY

June 19, 2018

Children, bees and raw honey have been connected in many ways through the ages – from the benefits of eating the natural goodness of the...

RAW HONEY AND RAMADAN

May 18, 2018

The holy month of Ramadan is a very special month in the calendar for Muslims, it’s a time of reflection and connection with one’s faith and ...

TRUE TO TASTE BUT IS YOUR MANUKA THE REAL DEAL?

December 16, 2017

In the news, this week New Zealand’s food ministry has announced their plans to further regulate and qualify what is true Manuka Honey. It...

BALQEES ON THE RED CARPET

December 6, 2017

The 14th Dubai Film Festival gets underway and I’m right chuffed Balqees is a sponsor again giving health and sustenance to the stars. We...

FINDING THE FAKES. WHY NOT ALL HONEY IS THE SAME.

September 28, 2017

Most people think that all honey is the same, a natural product that’s made by bees, collected by beekeepers and...

Health and Beauty

Raw honey to boost your immunity

March 16, 2020

With new threats to our health and how harmful bugs can spread very quickly, it makes sense to look at ways to...

All about bee pollen and its health benefits

June 9, 2019

We all know that bees collect pollen don’t we, but have you ever thought about what it is exactly? Why do bees dedicate...

Are antibiotics in my honey?

April 18, 2019

When you dip your spoon into a jar of honey do you consider what else might be in there? While some honey is packed with enzymes...

What is ginseng?

March 14, 2019

You’ve probably heard of ginseng and have an idea that it might be good for your health. But what exactly is ginseng, where does it...

Raw honey remedies to combat colds and coughs

October 7, 2018

Is there a more natural alternative to over-the-counter cough and cold remedies? Here’s why raw honey should be the first thing you...

The benefits of saffron

September 13, 2018

Blending a spice woven into the history of the Middle Eastern with Balqees Raw Yemeni Sidr Do’ani made absolute sense to Riath...

raw honey on a bedside table

Can raw honey help with insomnia? How to aid natural sleep

July 26, 2018

How are you sleeping? Are you often restless in the night and have difficulty getting a good seven or eight hours of restful sleep leaving...

small boy eats raw honey from a jar with spoon

Is Raw Honey Safe For Children?

July 16, 2018

Are you a parent wanting to instil healthy eating habits in your child and feed them well? Lots of questions come up when it comes to...

sugar and raw honey on teaspoons

Raw honey and diabetes

July 02, 2018

Many people ask about taking raw honey as a sweetener if they're diabetic, especially as an alternative to sugar. Here are some points to...

books on health and eating, cherries, a pear and a jar of raw honey

How raw honey can improve gut health

June 28, 2018

Chronic gut issues are on the rise. It was reported in the UK’s Independent newspaper in 2016 that Irritable Bowel Syndrome affects an...

make up bag with raw honey

Keep young and feel beautiful with raw honey

June 26, 2018

Eating raw honey keeps us healthy on the inside but it can also help us look and feel good on the outside too....

HOW RAW HONEY HELPS MEMORY AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION

June 10, 2018

Do you find after eating certain foods, particularly ones with refined sugar, you lose concentration, feel sleepy or suffer from what is called...

HOW RAW HONEY HELPS WHEN FASTING

May 25, 2018

There has been a lot of talk in the past few years about fasting and detox diets in an attempt to eliminate toxins from the body, feel healthier ...

UNDERSTANDING THE BENEFITS OF PROPOLIS

May 14, 2018

Honey and beeswax aren’t the only things that bees produce. Propolis is another bee product that, for thousands of years, has been extracted...

IS HONEY GLUTEN FREE?

May 9, 2018

Raw un-adulterated honey made by bees from the nectar and pollen gathered from flowers and plants and produced in the hive is gluten-free. ...

HOW RAW HONEY CAN HELP RUNNERS

April 21, 2018

While I may not have much first-hand experience in long distance running, many of the beekeepers we work with around the world are...

WHY RAW HONEY SHOULD BE IN YOUR MEDICINE CABINET

April 7, 2018

Raw honey has a home in your kitchen but did you know it also has many therapeutic properties? Raw honey has been used for centuries to...

THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF WALNUTS AND RAW HONEY

December 31, 2017

A new year and a healthy new you. We know about the health benefits of raw honey and the benefits of walnuts. Put the two together and you...

FOOD AS MEDICINE

December 23, 2017

It seems everywhere I turn someone has a sniffle, tickle, sneeze, wheeze, someone is spluttering or coughing. I attack any symptoms with a...

BEE VENOM AND OTHER SORE POINTS

November 29, 2017

Seeking out natural remedies dating back centuries is in vogue these days. If its good enough for ‘Gwynnie’ (Paltrow) injecting bee venom and...

HOW TO USE RAW HONEY AS A FACE MASK, SCRUB AND CLEANSER

October 10, 2017

It’s not just eating raw honey that’s good for the body. If you’re looking for a more natural beauty routine then raw honey is your friend. The ...

Beekeeper Stories

After the fire – a Portuguese beekeeper’s story

December 11, 2018

Wild fires raged through Southern Portugal in the summer of 2018 with a devastating effect on agriculture and the landscape. We talked...

Beekeeping in Ireland. The story behind Finbarr’s special hives

September 16, 2018

We are often asked about the best way to store raw honey so here's a handy guide ranging from which container to use, to the ideal...

A field of yellow mustard plants that attract bees

Planting herbs to help bees. An Australian beekeeper's medicinal garden

August 16, 2018

It's early springtime in New South Wales, Australia, which is a busy time for Gabrielle Morley, beekeeper and farmer. She is tending to...

honeycomb dripping honey into dish

A year in the life of beekeeper in the Western Cape

July 23, 2018

A lot of work goes into producing a jar of raw honey before it reaches the table. We caught up with Adam Harrower, Senior...

BEEKEEPERS, KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY

June 17, 2018

I am directed to a building off the main square in a small Portuguese town in the hills of the Algarve. I am looking for local honey and have a...

THE BENEFITS OF DATE PALM POLLEN, A BEE KEEPER’S STORY

May 6, 2018

What exactly is bee pollen? It’s the pollen from the flowers and plants that the bees collect and form into little granules to feed the larvae...

WOMEN AND BEEKEEPING

April 26, 2018

Beekeeping has traditionally been a man’s profession. Often taken on by farmers, it can be a tough way of life; battling against adverse ...

HOW RAW HONEY IS SEPARATED FROM BEESWAX – A BEEKEEPER’S UNIQUE INVENTION

April 12, 2018

Have you ever wondered how liquid honey gets from the honeycomb to the jar, without containing wax? There are several ways (including ...

HIGH COUNTRY HONEY ONLY FROM NEW ZEALAND

March 30, 2018

My mission with Balqees from the beginning was to find the best honeys in the world. Raw and unadulterated they are often located in ...

QUEENSLAND’S QUEEN OF BEES

March 26, 2018

Marie Chapman is one of the few female beekeepers in Australia. She comes from a family of beekeepers but branched out on her own to...

THREE GENERATIONS OF BEEKEEPERS IN NEW SOUTH WALES

March 22, 2018

The Walker family, based at Inverell in northern New South Wales close to the Queensland border, have been in the beekeeping business...

HOW A FEMALE BEEKEEPER IN AUSTRALIA HAS CREATED A HAVEN FOR BEES

March 20, 2018

I meet amazing people on my travels around the world and they all have a story to tell. From time to time you meet someone so extraordinary...

GATHERBY AND AUSTRALIAN MEDICINAL HONEY

March 15, 2018

One usually associates Manuka honey with New Zealand but you may be surprised to know Australia has their own anti-bacterial MGO honey...

FOR THE LOVE OF FOOD AND WHERE IT COMES FROM

February 22, 2018

My love of good ingredients and raw unadulterated honey comes from a family of food lovers. I grew up with eight brothers and sisters and a ...

BACKYARD BEEKEEPING IN THE WESTERN CAPE

February 19, 2018

I’ve been connecting with local bee keepers in the Western Cape of South Africa and Peter from A1 Honey who has been keeping bees for 30...

FYNBOS AND THE CAPE FLORAL KINGDOM

February 16, 2018

When I first tasted honey from South Africa my taste buds got all a ‘zinging’ and I wanted to know more about this area of the world and the...

A Taste of South African Honey - Avocados and Macadamia!

February 14, 2018

Exploring honey in South Africa I spoke with Mokgadi the woman behind Native Nosi. In an industry that is predominantly white and male...

LOOKING FOR HONEY IN THE HILLS OF THE ALGARVE

January 28, 2018

I head South to Sera de Monchique to explore the mountains in the south west of Portugal and to taste the local honey or ‘mel’ in Portuguese...

COMBATTING HIVE THEFT

December 27, 2017

I was surprised to read the news this week coming out of the UK about opportunists taking advantage of the bee keeping market. Thieves...

WHITE HONEY FROM KYRGYZSTAN

November 10, 2017

Fatima and her son Sultan in Kyrgyzstan have been working with me for the past 4 years, Fatima is well known for supplying the best white...

RARE CATAY HONEY FROM ARGENTINA

November 5, 2017

Catay honey is extremely rare as it is only harvested for two months of the year. Through Luis, a beekeeper in...

Bees and the Environment

What do bees do? 4 important ways they help our world

August 21, 2019

We may not notice bees very often as they buzz around our environment but there are...

Sustainability and honey

July 11, 2019

Sustainability is a word that’s used a lot these days, especially with the world’s climate and...

Seed Gathering and the Best Plants to Attract Bees

September 23, 2018

Sowing bee-friendly seeds in your garden, terrace or window box can create pollinator havens and help build dwindling numbers of bees...

bees on a honeycomb

Fascinating facts about Apis Mellifera - The Honey Bee

August 5, 2018

Opening a jar of raw honey is like opening a gift from nature especially when you know the incredible story of how it's made by the...

PROTECT OUR HEALTH AND THE HEALTH OF BEES ON WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2018

June 5, 2018

Concerned about the environment? So are we – not only do we rely on bees for our livelihood, but all our lives rely on bees. To mark World...

WORLD BEE DAY AND WHY IT MATTERS

May 21, 2018

The number of bees globally are in decline and its being put down to the urbanisation of rural areas, use of chemical pesticides and changes...

WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM BEES

May 3, 2018

Bees have been around for the past 80 million years so there must be a few things we can learn from them. There are around 20,000 species...

WAYS WE CAN HELP BEES AND MOTHER EARTH

April 22, 2018

The world’s bee population is in trouble as numbers are dwindling. Chemical insecticides and fertilizers, pollution, urbanization, disease and...

WHY WE SHOULD LOVE AND PROTECT BEES

October 11, 2017

That bees are in decline is in no doubt. There is much debate about the exact cause of their demise due to colony collapse or other means...

Raw Food and Recipes

Homemade raw honey cough syrup

September 18, 2019

It’s that time of the year when the first coughs and colds seem to surface. A constant cough can stop you from sleeping...

Back to school – breakfast and lunch-box tips

September 3, 2019

It’s that time of year when school-aged children are starting back for their new semester. Are you one of those parents rushing around...

Homemade honey butter recipe and ideas

August 8, 2019

Welcome to the wonderful world of honey butter. This delicious combination of a couple of ingredients...

Zhug – traditional Yemeni herb and chilli sauce recipe

July 25, 2019

Of all the dips and sauces in the Middle East, this is one that’s a hidden gem. Many mezze that most people know about, like hummus...

Green breakfast smoothie with raw honey

June 17, 2019

Green smoothies sound like a good idea but can be a bit challenging to drink. They are...

Golden milk recipe - the benefits of turmeric and raw honey

May 29, 2019

How to make golden milk, and why turmeric and raw honey are so good for you...

Easy, homemade tomato sauce recipe for pasta – with raw honey

February 27, 2019

Hands up if you’re always searching for easy, delicious sauce recipes to pour over pasta. We all need something we can rustle up when...

Benefits and delicious ideas for Raw Honey and Cinnamon

January 22, 2019

For me, you cannot beat the sweet aroma of cinnamon as it wafts through my house on baking day making me feel all warm inside. It...

Burnt honey and yogurt panna cotta with lime syrup, peaches and plums recipe

January 10, 2019

Greg Malouf is one of our favourite chefs as he makes beautiful, simple food focusing on the provenance of the best ingredients. His...

In the Kitchen with Sally Prosser of My Custard Pie

September 20, 2018

Food and travel writer, Sally Prosser, is a self-professed lover of good honest food. You will find her most weeks during the season at the...

Caramelised apricot (or nectarine) salad with walnuts and raw honey

September 9, 2018

Stone fruits like nectarines and apricots, which are from the same family, make a tasty addition to a bowl of fresh salad leaves at this ...

rye bread topped with labneh, fresh figs and raw honey

How to find the healthiest bread to go with raw honey

September 4, 2018

Raw honey spread on a slice of bread is one of the nicest things to eat, but how healthy is it? How can you be sure that what you’re are eating...

glass of smoothie made of berries and raw honey

Mixed berry smoothie with chia seeds and raw honey

August 19, 2018

This mixed berry smoothie is a great wake up call in the morning. The slight tartness from the berries combined with the natural...

honey, traditional bread, Arabic tea and cardamom pod

Raw honey and Traditional Emirati cooking

August 12, 2018

Honey, or ‘assal’ in Arabic has been used in Emirati cooking since it was harvested from wild bee hives in the mountains of Hatta and...

bowl of apricot and nut salad with ingredients and a jar of honey mustard dressing

Summer salad essential - Healthy Raw Honey Mustard Dressing

August 9, 2018

Calling all honey mustard salad dressing lovers (have you ever met anyone who isn’t?). A good salad dressing recipe is the key to great...

HOW TO PAIR CHEESE WITH RAW HONEY

June 4, 2018

A hunk of cheese on its own, with fresh bread or a salty cracker makes for a delicious snack, the perfect way to end dinner, or even a meal in...

MANGO SMOOTHIE WITH CHIA SEEDS AND RAW HONEY

May 27, 2018

Homemade smoothies are my daily fuel. Ripe mango with chia seeds and raw honey is a favourite. I love mangoes whether eaten as a fruit or...

FIVE BENEFITS OF ADDING RAW HONEY TO YOUR COFFEE

April 18, 2018

Do you like to sweeten your cup of coffee? We all know that cutting our sugar intake is a good thing, but if you can’t face drinking your...

GRANOLA – A TASTY WAY TO START YOUR DAY

December 10, 2017

I’m all over granola at the moment so when my mate Suzanne Radford sent me her ‘Seeing Red’ breakfast pic from Portugal she inspired me...

ULTIMATE COMFORT FOOD

November 25, 2017

One of the things I love the most is spending time with my family and especially my mum. Going back to the family home in Sheffield me and ...

BINT AL SAHN (YEMENI HONEY CAKE)

October 11, 2017

What are your most vivid memories of food from childhood? My first ever experience of tasting Yemeni honey started as a child when my...

THREE BREAKFAST SMOOTHIES WITH CHIA SEEDS AND RAW HONEY

October 9, 2017

Do you start the day with a smoothie? Pictured is is one of my favourites, a homemade chia seed smoothie (image taken by my daughter...

Food and Travel Stories

WHAT’S GOING DOWN IN CAPE TOWN

March 11, 2018

How do you truly get the ‘taste’ of a city if you only have a few days? I set Suzanne Radford the task of gathering the best of what Cape Town...

EXPLORING CAPE TOWN’S FOOD CULTURE

February 4, 2018

Suzanne and I first met when she presented the food show on Dubai Eye 103.8 and she invited me as a guest to talk about Balqees...

PASTEL DE NATA IN BELEM LISBON

January 25, 2018

In the heart of the Belem district of Lisbon the Portuguese custard tart was first made back in 1834 and now around 50,000 tarts are made...

A TASTE OF THE GOOD LIFE IN NORTHERN PORTUGAL

January 20, 2018

So it’s my first time in Portugal and my purpose? To catch up with friends who recently relocated from Dubai who are on a quest to experience...

NEW YEAR AND NEW DISCOVERIES IN 2018

January 8, 2018

There are literally hundreds of different kinds of honey around the world and i’m looking forward to a new year and new discoveries in 2018. I...

EXPLORING FOOD & INGREDIENTS IN BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN

November 11, 2017

Let me take you on a tour of some of the dishes being served in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. First up, lunch with Asylbek Jeenbekov who is the brother ...

A CULINARY TOUR THROUGH NEW ZEALAND

October 11, 2017

Riath Hamed of Balqees Honey heads to New Zealand with Suzanne Radford and Dubai Eye 103.8...

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