5 Bee Species Found in India — And the Honey Each One Makes
India is one of the richest countries in the world for bee diversity. With four native honey bee species and one introduced commercial species, the subcontinent produces honey with more variety, character, and medicinal depth than almost anywhere else on earth.
Most people don't know which bee made their honey. Here's everything you need to know.
1. Apis cerana indica — The Indian Honey Bee
Common name: Pahari makhi (Hindi)
Found in: Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Northeast India, plains
Colony size: 10,000 to 20,000 bees
Honey yield: 5 to 10 kg per year
Temperament: Gentle, ideal for beekeeping
This is India's most widely kept bee for commercial beekeeping. Smaller than the European bee, Apis cerana indica is naturally resistant to Varroa mite — a parasite that devastates European bee colonies. It's the primary source of Kashmiri honey, Himachal mountain honey, and most single origin varieties from North India.
The honey produced is rich, complex, and deeply influenced by the surrounding flora. This is the bee behind most of Shuddhta's single origin varieties.
2. Apis dorsata — The Giant Rock Bee
Common name: Bhanvra / Bhramara
Found in: Western Ghats, MP, Chhattisgarh, Northeast India
Colony size: 30,000 to 40,000 bees
Honey yield: 20 to 36 kg per year
Temperament: Highly aggressive — not suitable for conventional beekeeping
India's largest honey bee — up to 2cm long. Apis dorsata builds massive single open combs on high cliff faces, tall trees, and building ledges. It cannot be kept in conventional hives, but tribal communities across India practice traditional wild honey harvesting from these colonies.
Wild forest honey is predominantly produced by Apis dorsata. The dark, bold honey with its complex multi-floral profile comes from these wild foragers covering enormous territories deep in Indian forests.
3. Apis florea — The Dwarf Honey Bee
Common name: Chhoti makhi
Found in: Plains of India — UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat
Colony size: 2,000 to 5,000 bees
Honey yield: 0.5 to 1 kg per year
Temperament: Very gentle
India's smallest honey bee. Apis florea builds tiny single open combs on small branches and shrubs. Its honey yield is very low, making it commercially unviable, but it plays a critical role in pollinating small crops and wildflowers across the Indian plains.
Apis florea honey, when collected in small quantities by traditional practitioners, is considered medicinally potent in Ayurveda.
4. Trigona / Stingless Bee — Dammar Bee
Common name: Dammar makhi / Cheruthen (Kerala)
Found in: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Northeast India, Andaman Islands
Colony size: 500 to 4,000 bees
Honey yield: 0.5 to 2 kg per year
Temperament: Completely stingless — safe to handle
The most medicinally valued honey bee in India. Trigona bees do not have stings — they protect their nest using sticky propolis and wax. Their honey has a naturally tangy, sour-sweet flavour unlike any other variety. It has higher water content, lower pH, and exceptional enzyme activity.
In Kerala, Cheruthen (stingless bee honey) is used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for eye disorders, wound healing, and gut health. Shuddhta's Small Bee Honey comes from these remarkable insects.
5. Apis mellifera — The European Honey Bee (Introduced)
Common name: Videshi makhi / Italian bee
Found in: Commercial farms across Punjab, Haryana, UP, Maharashtra
Colony size: 40,000 to 80,000 bees
Honey yield: 25 to 80 kg per year
Temperament: Manageable with proper equipment
Introduced from Europe for commercial honey production, Apis mellifera now dominates India's commercial beekeeping sector. It produces far more honey than native species, making it commercially attractive. However, it is susceptible to Varroa mite and requires regular treatment.
Over 80% of commercially sold honey in India comes from Apis mellifera farms. This is not inherently bad — but it means most Indian honey is from an introduced species, raised in managed conditions, rather than native bees foraging freely.
Why Does the Bee Species Matter for Honey Quality?
Each bee species forages differently, processes nectar differently, and produces honey with a distinct chemical profile. Apis dorsata honey from wild forest flora has a completely different antioxidant profile than Apis mellifera honey from a managed mustard farm.
At Shuddhta, we work with native bee species and traditional beekeeping practices wherever possible. Our Small Bee Honey comes from stingless bees — one of the rarest and most medicinally significant species in India.
Want to taste the difference? Try our Single Origin Honey range — each variety tells the story of a specific bee, a specific flower, and a specific region of India.