Mayurbhanj Simlipal Forest Honey Odisha

Simlipal Biosphere Reserve in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, produces wild forest honey harvested by Ho and Santali tribal communities who have gathered bee colonies from rock cliffs and tree hollows for generations. Honey hunters use smoke from burning damp leaves to calm colonies before harvesting honeycomb by hand. Simlipal honey is multifloral — bees forage on sal, kendu, mahua, and seasonal flowering trees. The honey has distinctive dark amber colour and robust flavour from forest botanical diversity. Tribal women cooperatives under the Odisha Forest Development Corporation package and sell Simlipal honey under the Simlipal brand. GI protection efforts are underway to establish provenance. Each year honey season from March to May coincides with sal flowering.