Three Honeys from Wayanad — Which One is Right for You?

Wayanad is a land of extraordinary natural abundance. Its forests, hills, and tribal farmlands produce some of the finest honey in India — raw, unprocessed, and gathered the way honey has been gathered here for centuries. But not all honey from Wayanad is the same. There are three distinct types, each with its own character, flavour, and medicinal value.

If you have been searching for pure, genuine honey from Kerala, this guide will help you understand exactly what you are buying — and which one suits your needs.

The Three Honeys of Wayanad

1. Cheruthen — Stingless Bee Honey (The Rarest of All)

Cheruthen — literally meaning “small honey” in Malayalam — is the honey produced by the stingless bee, known locally as the Cheruthen Bee or Dammer Bee. This is not the common honeybee you see in gardens. The stingless bee is a tiny, ancient species that builds its hives inside tree hollows, bamboo stumps, and earthen walls.

Cheruthen is considered the most precious and medicinally valuable honey in Ayurveda. Charaka Samhita, the ancient Ayurvedic text, classifies stingless bee honey separately from regular honey and rates it superior in therapeutic value.

Why is Cheruthen so special?

Stingless bees collect nectar and pollen exclusively from medicinal flowering plants native to the Western Ghats — Tulsi, Tumba, and other forest herbs that large honeybees rarely visit
The honey ferments naturally inside the hive, giving it a unique slightly tangy, sweet-sour flavour profile unlike any other honey
It has significantly higher water content than regular honey — giving it a thinner, more liquid consistency. This is natural and normal, not a sign of dilution
Due to its higher moisture and natural fermentation, it has powerful probiotic properties
Stingless bee colonies produce very small quantities — a single colony yields only 500 grams to 1 kilogram per year, compared to 30 to 40 kilograms from a large honeybee colony. This is why it is rare and commands a higher price

Ayurvedic uses of Cheruthen:

Improving eyesight — traditional Ayurvedic practice of applying a tiny drop in the eye
Treating ear infections — a few drops in the ear canal
Healing mouth ulcers and gum disease
Improving digestion and gut health
Boosting immunity, especially in children and elderly
Managing diabetes — Cheruthen has a lower glycaemic impact than regular honey
Respiratory conditions — mixed with ginger and pepper for coughs and colds
Wound healing and skin conditions when applied externally

Taste profile: Thin, liquid consistency. Sweet with a distinctive tangy, slightly sour note. Very different from the thick sweetness of regular honey — this takes some getting used to but becomes deeply enjoyable.

Who should buy Cheruthen: Those looking for maximum medicinal value, people managing diabetes or digestive issues, parents who want to give children a superior natural health supplement, and anyone who appreciates rare, authentic Ayurvedic products.

Buy Cheruthen — Stingless Honey (200g) from Wayanad.net

2. Medium Honey — Wild and Organic Forest Honey

Medium honey, known locally as Puttuthen or Kattuthen, is wild forest honey harvested from the hives of the Apis Dorsata — the giant rock bee — in the deep forests of Wayanad. This is the honey most Kerala households grew up with. Raw, unfiltered, deeply aromatic, and powerfully medicinal.

The bees that produce this honey forage across thousands of acres of the Western Ghats forests — collecting nectar from wild flowers, forest trees, and medicinal plants. The result is a dark, intensely flavoured honey with a complex, almost smoky sweetness that processed supermarket honey cannot come close to matching.

Why medium honey from Wayanad is special:

Truly wild — harvested from natural rock face hives and hollow tree hives deep in Wayanad forests
Never heated or pasteurised — all natural enzymes, pollen, antioxidants, and nutrients are fully preserved
Rich dark colour indicating high mineral content and antioxidant concentration
Complex, multi-floral flavour — because the bees forage from hundreds of different wild flower species
May granulate or crystallise over time — this is a sign of purity, not a defect. Simply place the jar in warm water to reliquefy

Health benefits:

One of the richest natural sources of antioxidants available in food form
Powerful antibacterial — effective for wound healing, sore throat, and skin infections
Anti-inflammatory properties help with joint pain and respiratory conditions
Natural energy booster — better than processed sugar for sustained energy without crashes
Supports liver health and digestive function
Mixed with warm water and lemon on an empty stomach — a classic Kerala morning health ritual

Taste profile: Bold, complex, slightly smoky sweetness with a long finish. Darker than regular honey. Intense and deeply satisfying for honey lovers.

Who should buy medium honey: Honey connoisseurs who want the most flavourful wild honey experience, those looking for maximum antioxidant content, and households wanting a daily health supplement with superior taste.

Buy Medium Honey — Wild and Organic from Wayanad.net

3. Big Honey — Pure Natural Everyday Honey

Big honey is the everyday workhorse of Wayanad honeys — pure, natural, and versatile. Harvested from large Apis Cerana hives, this is the honey that most Indian households use daily. It is the familiar golden honey — thick, sweet, and reliably good.

What makes Wayanad big honey different from supermarket brands is simple — it is raw and unprocessed. Most commercial honey sold in India is heated, filtered, and blended to achieve a uniform appearance and extend shelf life. This processing destroys most of the natural enzymes, antioxidants, and beneficial compounds that make honey genuinely good for health.

Wayanad big honey comes to you as nature produced it — unpasteurised, unfiltered, and full of the natural goodness that makes real honey a superfood.

Uses:

Daily health supplement — one teaspoon every morning on an empty stomach
Natural sweetener in tea, coffee, warm milk
Spread on bread, roti, or biscuits
Baking and cooking as a natural sugar substitute
Face masks and skin care — apply directly on clean skin, leave 15 minutes, rinse
Sore throat remedy — mix with ginger juice and warm water
Wound care — apply on minor cuts and burns for natural antibacterial protection

Storage tip: Transfer to a steel or glass jar. Crush 3 to 4 black pepper pods and place inside the jar — this is a traditional Kerala method that helps preserve honey for a longer time naturally.

Taste profile: Clean, familiar golden sweetness. Milder than forest honey. Versatile and crowd-pleasing.

Who should buy big honey: Families who want a pure, natural everyday honey for cooking and daily use at the best value. Also excellent for those new to natural honey who want to start with a familiar flavour profile.

Buy Big Honey — 1kg from Wayanad.net

Which Honey Should You Choose?

Still not sure which one to pick? Here is a simple guide:

Maximum medicinal value, Ayurvedic use, or managing diabetes: Cheruthen — stingless honey
Best flavour, highest antioxidants, honey connoisseur: Medium honey — wild and organic
Daily family use, cooking, natural sweetener, best value: Big honey — 1kg
Want to try all three: Order all three — they serve different purposes and will last your household for months

How to Identify Pure Natural Honey

The Indian honey market has a serious adulteration problem. Here are simple ways to check if your honey is genuine:

The water test: Drop a spoonful of honey into a glass of water. Pure honey will sink to the bottom without dissolving immediately. Adulterated honey dissolves quickly.
The thumb test: Put a small drop on your thumb. Pure honey stays in place. Adulterated honey spreads or drips immediately.
Crystallisation: Pure honey granulates or crystallises over time, especially in cooler temperatures. If your honey has been liquid for years without any change, it may be processed or adulterated.
The flame test: Dip a matchstick in honey and strike it. Pure honey will allow the matchstick to light. Honey with high water content or adulterants will not.

About Wayanad Honey

Wayanad’s unique geography — the combination of altitude between 700 and 2100 metres, high rainfall, dense forest cover, and rich biodiversity — makes it one of the finest honey-producing regions in India. The Western Ghats forests of Wayanad host hundreds of wild flowering plant species that bloom across different seasons, giving the bees a continuous and diverse source of nectar.

Tribal communities in Wayanad have been harvesting wild honey for generations using traditional methods that do not harm the bee colonies. This sustainable harvesting practice ensures the bees continue to thrive and pollinate Wayanad’s forests and farms.

When you buy honey from Wayanad, you are not just buying a health product — you are supporting a sustainable agricultural tradition that has sustained Wayanad’s ecosystem for centuries.

Browse All Wayanad Honey

Questions about which honey is right for you? WhatsApp or call Sanmatiraj directly: 9061703735

Natural product. Colour, consistency, and flavour of honey may vary between batches and seasons — this is a sign of authenticity, not inconsistency. Honey should not be given to children below 1 year of age. People with bee allergies should consult a doctor before consuming wild or forest honey.