Miraculous Japanese Raw Honey — "From the Southernmost Tip of Mainland Japan! Raw Honey Collected by Japanese Honeybees in Pristine Virgin Forests" 450g Jar

Accounting for less than 0.1% of honey available in Japan — we bring you the "miraculous wildflower honey" collected by Japanese honeybees over the course of a year in the untouched primeval forests at the southernmost tip of mainland Japan.

Satabezuka district, Minami Osumi Town, Kagoshima Prefecture.

Located at the southernmost tip of mainland Japan, this marginal village with a population of just 115 people is home to a medicinal herb garden established by the Satsuma domain during the Edo period, which still exists to this day, and one of the largest untouched evergreen broad-leaved forests in western Japan.

In this miraculous environment, just three beekeeper families live alongside Japanese honeybees using traditional methods, and this rare honey is harvested just once a year - that is this product.

99.9% of honey on the market comes from Western honeybees.

The reason why Japanese honeybees account for less than 0.1% of the honey sold in Japan is due to the difficulty of raising them.

They are sensitive to pesticides and changes in the environment, and will quickly flee the hive if they feel stressed. It is precisely because these native bees are so delicate that beekeeping can only be done in remote virgin forests.

Unheated, unsweetened, unfiltered.

We invite you to experience our 100% pure raw honey, carefully filtered by hand.

Product Highlights

Rare, with less than 0.1% of domestic circulation

Since the Meiji period, Japanese beekeeping has been replaced by more efficient Western honeybees.

Japanese honeybees collect nectar at only 1/5 to 1/10 the rate of Western honeybees, and planned production is impossible, so it is truly called the "phantom honey."

"Hyakuhana Honey" made from the herb gardens of the Satsuma domain

Unlike Western honeybees, which collect nectar from a single flower, Japanese honeybees fly to over 100 different types of flowers to collect nectar.

The herb garden was built during the height of the Satsuma domain's prosperity, and the flowers found only here, such as the Hezuka orchid and Hezuka mandarin orange, blend with extremely rare medicinal herbs planted over 100 years ago to create a complex, deep flavor that cannot be found anywhere else.

Sugar content over 78% - matured in the hive for one year

Honey harvesting takes place once a year after a cold wave hits (late November to early December).

Honey that has been aged for a year in the hives of Japanese honeybees undergoes partial fermentation, producing organic acids, and adding a moderate acidity to its high sugar content.

It has such a deep flavor that honey lovers describe it as "like vintage wine."

No heating, no added sugar, no filtration, 100% purity

All of the honey is carefully filtered by hand, preserving the honey's natural enzymes and nutrients.

The first time, impurities were removed visually over a period of four days, and the second time over a period of two days.

This is 100% pure raw honey made with expert techniques.

Coexistence with Japanese honeybees

When harvesting honey, we do not take all of it, but leave one-third in the hive so that the Japanese honeybees can survive the winter.

This spirit of sharing has made sustainable beekeeping possible for generations.

Suggested Uses

Enjoy it as is

Take a teaspoonful at a time and let it dissolve slowly in your mouth.

You can enjoy the complex aroma unique to multi-flower honey, its refreshing acidity, and its elegant sweetness that quickly disappears.

Wine & Cheese Pairing

Its distinctive richness and fresh, refreshing flavor, recognized by famous pastry chefs, make it an excellent match with wine and cheese.

When served with blue cheese or aged cheese, it brings out the flavor of the ingredients.

Morning Yogurt or Toast

The glucose and fructose are quickly absorbed by the body, making it ideal for refueling in the morning.

Enjoy over yogurt or warm toast.

Throat Care

Honey contains natural antibacterial properties and is also recommended for soothing your throat.

Place it in your mouth to moisten your throat.

FAQ

It has crystallized, but does this affect the quality?

Crystallization is a sign of high sugar content and rich nutrition. There are no issues with quality, hygiene, or nutrition, so please enjoy it with peace of mind. If you would like to melt it before use, please boil it in water at about 50°C.

Why is it so expensive?

Japanese honeybee honey can only be harvested once a year, and the amount produced per colony is only about one-tenth of that of Western honeybees. Furthermore, beekeeping can only be done in virgin forests without pesticides, and all honey is filtered by hand, making mass production impossible. Due to its rarity, honey is traded at high prices among honey enthusiasts.

Is it safe to give to infants?

Never give to children under 1 year old. Honey may contain botulism spores, which are dangerous for infants whose immune systems are not yet fully developed. It is safe for children over 1 year old to consume.

How Should I Store It?

Store at room temperature away from direct sunlight. In the hot summer months, store in the refrigerator or a cool, dark place. After opening, we recommend storing in the refrigerator to prevent dirt from adhering and insects and ants from entering.

Do you carry out quality inspections?

We conduct bacterial testing with every harvest, delivering honey that is safe and quality-assured.

The story of the beekeepers of Satabezuka and Japanese honeybees

The Satabezuka district of Minami Osumi Town, Kagoshima Prefecture - this village, located at the southernmost tip of mainland Japan, is one of the most difficult to access communities in the prefecture.

Because this area has not yet developed infrastructure, untouched nature, free from pesticides, remains.

This primeval forest is one of the three major evergreen broad-leaved forest areas in Japan (the others are the Osumi Peninsula, Yakushima, and Aya Town, Miyazaki Prefecture), and is home to the Hyakusoen medicinal herb garden, which was established by the Satsuma domain during the Edo period and still exists today.

Japanese honeybees fly freely across this forest, which has been untouched by humans for over a hundred years, collecting nectar from a wide variety of flowers.

The three beekeeping families live with the Japanese honeybees as if they were family.

Placing a hive under the eaves of one's house and living with the gentle Japanese honeybees is an ideal example of coexistence between humans and nature.

Beekeepers exterminate hornets, their natural enemy, and in return receive a share of honey once a year - a win-win relationship that has continued for generations.

Honey produced by Japanese honeybees does not contain the propolis produced by Western honeybees.

The reason for this is still unknown, but since it does not contain the harsh propolis, it is very safe and is said to have the effect of regulating the mouth and throat.

A natural nectar produced by nature that is attracting the attention of the intellectually wealthy.

We invite you to try this rare honey, nurtured in this depopulated village in Japan — a true treasure of the natural world.

Message from the manufacturer and distributor

Thank you very much for purchasing Japanese honeybee honey.

If you are storing it, we recommend storing it in the refrigerator from early spring to prevent dirt from sticking to it and the intrusion of insects, ants, etc.

During the warmer seasons, the honey may crystallize and have a gritty texture, but this does not pose any problems from a hygiene or nutritional standpoint, so you can enjoy it without worry.

This honey is harvested in the Satanabezuka region, a virgin forest area at the southern tip of the Osumi Peninsula, which is home to some of the largest evergreen broad-leaved forests in Japan.

Enjoy the unparalleled quality of our "primitive forest honey."

Higo, Representative Director, Seag Japan Co., Ltd.