My Life as a Worker Bee - Honeybee: Lessons from an Accidental Beekeeper - page 3

“Honey is an ancient tradition here, used for its health benefits. And honeybees are
respected,” he said.
Before continuing to the restaurant, I took some photographs to remember what I'd
seen—and, of course, to show Mr. B.
Now that I knew there were honeybees in China, I made it my mission to purchase
somelocalhoney.Mr.Wangsaidtherewasahoneyshopnottoofarawayfromthefact-
ory, and after lunch we set out for it. He told me stores that sold only honey and honey
products were common in China, and his wife regularly purchased honey for their fam-
ily, especially when one of the children had a cold.
Turning down a side street, we arrived at a small shop with a distinct honeybee logo
on its door. The interior of the shop was decorated like a beehive. There were shelves
quite cleverly designed in the familiar hexagonal shape of a honeycomb, and each dis-
playing a single jar of honey. The honeys were different shades of amber and gold. We
also found real honeybees on display inside a framed glass box; this chamber of won-
ders allowed viewers to peek into the inner sanctum of a real beehive. A slight hum
pulsed from the framed glass box as thousands of busy honeybees crawled across the
honeycomb.Mr.WangandIcouldfeeltheheatoftheirlittlebodiespermeatingthrough
the glass and smell the unmistakable aroma of honey and beeswax as they went about
their business.
The clerk behind the counter was busy filling a huge glass jar with honey from a
stainlesssteeltank.Acustomerwatchedherintently,asthoughhishoneypurchasewere
a ceremonious undertaking. Mindful not to spill a single drop, the clerk scooped up the
honeywithaprimitive-lookingladleanddrizzleditintothecontainer.Whenthejarwas
full, the clerk twisted the cap tightly, wiped down the jar with a rag, and brought it to
the register. After a brief conversation, the customer paid and was on his way.
Waiting my turn, I peered into the glass display counter exhibiting fine specimens of
various honeys, all with beautiful labels that enticed my artistic eye. Not understanding
Chinese, I relied on Mr. Wang to translate for me. There was loquat honey, million-
flowerhoney,rosehoney,andmanyothersthathewasnotabletotranslateintoEnglish.
Healsopointed outjarsthat contained achunkofhoneycomb straight fromthebeehive
and other jars of thick, creamy honey. I had no idea there were so many types. Could
any of these types of Chinese honey taste much different from the honey back home?
I needed to know so I opted for a single jar of the million-flower honey, which later I
learned is more commonly called wildflower. Mr. Wang motioned the clerk over to tell
her which bottle we wanted. She wrapped my honey and placed it in a bag decorated
with bees.