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The History of Bee-Keeping in JAMAICA

 

Beekeeping has a long history in Jamaica dating back  to the 1770’s.  Since there were, and still are, indigenous stingless, honey producing bees in Jamaica, it may be presumed that the Tainos (Jamaica’s indigenous people) may also have harvested the honey and probably may have even provided logs for the bees to live in.

 

A listing of products exported from Jamaica to the United Kingdom in the first half of 1866 shows that almost every cargo leaving Jamaica included honey and/or bees wax, amounting in total to 59 kegs of honey and 42 barrels of bees wax. It can also be seen from the commodity price list that Jamaican honey was commanding better prices than Cuban honey. 

 

Jamaican honey and bees wax also won awards at Exhibitions in Europe, such as the Paris Exhibition of 1878 and the Amsterdam Exhibition of 1883.

 

 

 

Our Award Winning JAMAICAN Honey

Jamaican honey and bees wax won awards at Exhibitions in Europe, such as the Paris Exhibition of 1878 and the Amsterdam Exhibition of 1883.

 

The species of bees common in Jamaica today were originally brought by the Spanish. With Jamaica's wild and planted fruit, Jamaican bees create an incredible honey that picks up the flavour of whatever blossom the bees have fed on. The parish of Clarendon is known as the honey parish. 

 

The unique taste of Jamaican honey makes it one of the most desired honeys in many overseas markets.  This ‘taste’ is attributed to the variety of tropical flora and the climatic conditions which enhance both the taste and colour of our honey.  Honey is currently the main hive product in Jamaica, where, even with expanding production, demand outstrips supply.

 

In 1859 an exchange of correspondence took place between Richard Hill and Charles Darwin about bees in Jamaica, especially the indigenous bees.  (Click HoneyKist Button to read more)

 

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