Art of tribes - Honey Harvest
Honey harvesting is one of the occupations of the tribal peoples, and they are masters in their work. Tribal people's cultures and languages are different. They follow the Honey Bees to find where the beehive is located. They travel and cross the long-distance in dense forests and mountains to collect Honey. While going so, they eat fruits and tubers found in the wild and also eat harvested Honey.
Foods commonly brought from the wild for human consumption are highly medicinal. There are millions of natural medicines available in the forest. Some of the medicines are used in human's regular life, as well as in Siddha and Ayurveda. Honey harvesting is the art; when tribal do the harvest, they are not killing the Bees. They use the smoke method for harvesting. Tribes compare and worship Honey Bee to the deity.
Where do Honey Bee Live?
Honey Bees commonly live in tropical climates and places with high forest cover. We can see highly in gardens and lawns. Bee set up the hives in the High mountains, Thorn plants, and wood sticks. This one is the only agile insect, and their primary food is Honey.
We differentiate the Bee varieties into Kombu (Small Bee or Apis Floria), Malai thean (Apis dorsata), Adukku thean (Cavity or Apis Serana), and kosu thean (Dammer Bee or Stingless Bee). Honey types vary depending on the kind of Bee. Bees will maintain the Nest.
Small Bee
Small Bee (Apis Floria) is called kombu thean in Tamil. Kombu thean is a tiny Bee variety. They go places where rock Bee can't go to collect nectar from flowers of small medicinal plants. This Bee travels long distances to collect Honey.
Not only nectar, but the Bee also collects more pollen grains. So it possessed more Health benefits. People use this for home medicine in a traditional way.
Health Benefits of Honey – Small Bee
- It contains more pollen content, which helps to improve immunity to our body.
- It has a Low Glycemic Index value so that diabetic patients can consume the Ghats Honey.
- Kombu thean contains more antioxidants, and it is defensive against heart disease and some cancer diseases.
- It also helps to reduce the blood cholesterol level.
- Warm water with Kombu thean (Small Bee) effectively prevents colds and coughs.
- Small Bees contain more antioxidant polyphenols, so they can help avoid stress.
- Improves wound healing and burns to heal.
- Kombu thean is a perfect energy booster for sportspeople.
- The pollen grain of the Honey helps to prevent some cancer disease.