Hatta Honey Festival invites guests
The 9th Hatta Honey Festival has kicked off in the UAE, where residents and visitors can try various varieties of this sweet product. Particular attention is drawn to the unique salted honey offered by Egyptian beekeeper Abdel Azim. This unusual type of honey is produced by bees collecting nectar from plants in the coastal mangrove forests of Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah. According to Azim, the proximity of the mangroves to the sea gives the honey a special flavour.
Every May for the past three years, Azim and his team have been visiting the mangroves to check if the flowers have bloomed. ‘Once the conditions become ideal, we transport the honeybees to the mangroves. The bees collect nectar for two to three weeks, after which we return the hives to our farm for collection,’ he revealed.
Another outstanding variety at the festival is rare white honey, which is produced by bees from the nectar of flowers growing in the Salalah valleys in Oman. Nassir Al Humaidi, an experienced beekeeper with nearly 30 years of experience, notes that this honey is characterised by its purity and uniqueness as it is only produced in Arab countries. ‘Only 30kg of this honey is harvested in just one season, making it incredibly rare and sought after,’ adds Al Humaidi. He explains that the plants from which the nectar is collected bloom only a few days after the Kharif season, making the honey harvesting process particularly challenging and labour intensive.
The festival also showcases innovative products, such as a mixture of gum Arabic (acacia) and honey created by medical student Mouna El Siddique. She developed this product to improve health based on her knowledge of the benefits of gum Arabic for the cardiovascular and digestive systems. ‘I first crushed Arabic gum and mixed it with honey. I consumed this mixture for a month and felt much better,’ shares Muna. Her family owns a honey business in Al Ain, and the product is now a favourite among customers who have noted its positive effects on health.
The Hatta Honey Festival not only offers unique varieties of the popular product, but also emphasises the importance of sustainable beekeeping and the variety of products based on it.
Source: Khaleej Times
