Greetings from Penang island, Malaysia

[Beatrice T]

Hi there, I have just started on local species of stingless honey beekeeping and currently having 4 hives in my 10 acre organic durian orchard up on the hill at the western side of the island where most fruit orchards and spice (nutmeg and clove) plantations are located.

I met Amari while he was vacationing with his wife in Penang, he is my kind introducer to this forum. Good to be in touch with other hobbist beekeepers around the world thanks to this technology called internet.

Cheers

 

[pargyle]

Welcome to the forum ... it will be interesting to hear what beekeeping is like over there - your apiary locations sounds idyllic.

http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/stingless-bees.html

 

[enrico]

Oh my favourite place in the world.....welcome.
Stingless bees? Tell us more!
E

 

[wessexmario]

stingless bees? easy.

just get a box of drones

 

[wessexmario]

What I've heard about those stingless bees is that they bite instead...
but unlike a sting where once stung you can easily scrape it out, those little bu@@rs once they get their chops into you won't let go!

 

[B+.]

Hi there, I have just started on local species of stingless honey beekeeping and currently having 4 hives in my 10 acre organic durian orchard up on the hill at the western side of the island where most fruit orchards and spice (nutmeg and clove) plantations are located.

I met Amari while he was vacationing with his wife in Penang, he is my kind introducer to this forum. Good to be in touch with other hobbist beekeepers around the world thanks to this technology called internet.

Cheers

Welcome.

I visited your beautiful island many years ago and stayed at Batu Ferringhi. In those days the jungle started at the end of the street. I understand that it has changed a lot over the years.

I wish my bees were stingless.

 

[pargyle]

Oh my favourite place in the world.....welcome.
Stingless bees? Tell us more!
E

Post #2

What I want to know is how do they extract the honey from the little cups these bees create to store their honey .. looks to me like it would have to be syringed out cup by cup ... with that level of labour to get the honey out of the 'hive' I would think it will be more expensive than manooky ... from the sounds of it the taste of the honey is very sour so it's going to be worth a fortune if you have the time and patience !

 

[dn170221]

Welcome!!

 

[domino]

Welcome, I was born in Malacca.

 

[rook66]

Hi there, I have just started on local species of stingless honey beekeeping and currently having 4 hives in my 10 acre organic durian orchard up on the hill at the western side of the island where most fruit orchards and spice (nutmeg and clove) plantations are located.

I met Amari while he was vacationing with his wife in Penang, he is my kind introducer to this forum. Good to be in touch with other hobbist beekeepers around the world thanks to this technology called internet.

Cheers

Welcome Beatrice,
I spent two and a half years there, Butterworth/Penang. Great times in the 60s. Is the Chowrasta market still on Penang Rd. There's a series running here on channel 4 "Indian Summers" it was shot on Penang hill.
http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-03-08/secrets-from-the-set-of-indian-summers

 

[madasafish]

 

[Erichalfbee]

Welcome.
I too am very intrigued.
Does extraction involve crush and strain?

 

[Amari]

Hi there, I have just started on local species of stingless honey beekeeping and currently having 4 hives in my 10 acre organic durian orchard up on the hill at the western side of the island where most fruit orchards and spice (nutmeg and clove) plantations are located.

I met Amari while he was vacationing with his wife in Penang, he is my kind introducer to this forum. Good to be in touch with other hobbist beekeepers around the world thanks to this technology called internet.
Cheers

Welcome Beatrice! We look forward to hearing more about the stingless bees. Are you going to post a picture of your secret and intriguing invention of how to extract honey from the stingless colony?

 

[Bee Bumble]

Welcome. I too will be very interested to hear about sting-less bees. I wish I had an orchard like yours - I miss eating those yummy Durians!

 

[Arfermo]

Welcome to the forum ... it will be interesting to hear what beekeeping is like over there - your apiary locations sounds idyllic.

http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/stingless-bees.html

Yummy indeed? Ever smelled a durian close up. Just hope the bees enjoy it but not for me. Used to see of crates of them on the pavement in HK 40 odd years ago. Toilets and flatulence readily come to mind!!!!

 

[jonnybeegood]

I spent a month in Penang while backpacking south east asia about 25 years ago, great times isnt it illegal to carry Durian on public transport due to the smell? I home the honey smells better

 

[pargyle]

I home the honey smells better

Apparently it does ...the 'normal' honey from stingless bees is apparently very sour tasting to start with ... the Durian honey

"The durian honey is also amber, but if you are expecting some aroma or flavor of the durian fruit, don't be disappointed (or should you be relieved?), there isn't a slightest hint of it. Nevertheless, it is a very pleasant, smooth honey with a faint bitter after-taste."

I think the more medicinal the honey tastes the more expensive it gets ... should be a winner if you could get it to stink a bit as well ....

 

[Beatrice T]

I am still trying to work out how to post pix, somehow the website does not allow me to post from my pic gallery

 

[jonnybeegood]

I am still trying to work out how to post pix, somehow the website does not allow me to post from my pic gallery

you have to reduce the size Beatrice or post a link to somewhere else to view your pics like photoshop or flickr. a few of us have had this problem.

 

[Beatrice T]

unlike the fruits durian flowers are actually very pleasantly fragrant, a bit like jasmine, I am in much anticipation to harvest durian honey after the flowering season which is about now.