Kongthong Honey
What makes Kongthong Honey Unique?
The villagers in Kongthong follow the traditional practices of harvesting and extracting honey. Food production here relies entirely on Mother Nature, guided by traditional knowledge and the instinctive wisdom of the bees. The honey from Kongthong is comparatively richer and healthier. This can be credited to the landscape and surroundings of the region. Most farmers in the village do not use Chemical fertilisers or pesticides on crops or fruits. Inevitably, this attracts bees to pollinate in this region, making the bees healthier and organic. This leads to the production of the most organic and natural honey.
Natural by Nature
Kongthong farmers avoid chemical fertilisers, attracting healthier bees and producing richer honey.Traditional Harvesting Techniques
Honey is harvested twice a year in Kongthong. The first harvest, from late November to January, comes from the Syndai Bee, known for producing high-quality, flavour-rich, and medicinally valuable honey. The second harvest, between March and April, is from the Pyrem Bee, which yields honey of lower quality—less flavourful, lower in medicinal value, and often under-ripened due to the heat of the season.
Kongthong: The Whistling Village
The village of Kongthong is well-known for people calling and addressing each other with distinct melodies or special tunes, earning it the famous name of the Whistling Village. What many people do not know is that beekeeping and bee harvesting are also quite popular here. Located in Khatarshnong Laitkroh Block, East Khasi Hills District, Kongthong has a total of 145 households. The village mainly comprises a farming population, but at least 40-50 households practise beekeeping. To preserve the old practices, the villagers in Kongthong still use the traditional method of beekeeping. These bee boxes are traditionally made from the wood of a tree that has been cut down. A hole is then drilled in the middle where the bees can reproduce, and the honey is harvested.
Wellness & Nutritional Benefits
Apart from being a delicious natural sweetener, honey is also used for many medical purposes. People drink honey with water to cleanse their bodies of impurities, and they use honey on their skin to help treat bruises after an accident. Injuries are also treated with honey mixed with slaked lime.
Traditional Remedies
Kongthong honey is used for cleansing, treating bruises, and healing injuries with slaked lime.Where to Buy?
After harvesting, Kongthong’s honey is traditionally stored in pots and reused oil cans, then sold in local markets. In recent years, efforts to improve the quality and accessibility of this honey have been led by Shri Rothell Khongsit, Chairman of the Meghalaya Rural Tourism Cooperative Federation Ltd. His initiatives introduced better packaging, labelling, and marketing strategies, helping local beekeepers bring their honey to a wider audience. Visitors can now purchase this locally produced honey at village markets and from select outlets that support community-based tourism and rural enterprises.
