Quick answer: Small bee honey and stingless bee honey come from two different kinds of bee. Small bee honey (chhoti makkhi ka shahad) is made by Apis florea, a true honey bee that builds one small open comb on bushes. Stingless bee honey (called dammar or cheruthen honey) is made by tiny stingless bees such as Tetragonula, which live in tree hollows and wall cavities and store honey in small resin pots. Stingless bee honey is usually thinner, more sour and even scarcer. Both are rare, but they are not the same thing.
| At a glance | Small bee honey | Stingless bee honey |
|---|---|---|
| Bee | Apis florea (dwarf or little honey bee) | Stingless bees, e.g. Tetragonula iridipennis |
| Local names | Chhoti makkhi ka shahad, little bee honey | Dammar bee honey, cheruthen (Kerala) |
| Does the bee sting? | Yes, though it is mild-tempered | No (it may bite) |
| Nest | One small, open, palm-sized comb on bushes and branches | Hidden in hollows; honey kept in small wax-resin pots |
| Typical yield | About 0.5 kg per colony per year | Very small: usually well under a kilo per colony per year |
| Texture and taste | Thick to medium, floral, mild earthy notes | Thin and runny, sweet-sour, sometimes slightly tangy |
| Where in India | Dry scrub and plains, e.g. Bundelkhand, parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat | Kerala, the Western Ghats, the Northeast |
| Storage | Room temperature, closed jar | Higher water content, so more prone to fermenting; follow the seller's storage advice |
What is small bee honey?
Small bee honey comes from Apis florea, the smallest of India's native honey bees. Each colony builds a single comb out in the open on bushes, hedges and low branches, and moves often, so it can't be kept in boxes. Agricultural references put its yield at roughly half a kilo per colony per year, which is why the honey is collected by hand and sold in small quantities. Full guide: small bee vs big bee honey.
What is stingless bee honey?
Stingless bees are a separate group of bees, not a type of honey bee. In India the best known is Tetragonula iridipennis, the dammar bee. Colonies live in tree hollows, rock crevices and wall gaps, and store honey in small pots made of wax and plant resin rather than in a comb. Because each colony is small, the yield is tiny, and the honey often costs much more than ordinary honey. It is traditionally valued in Kerala, where it is called cheruthen, and in parts of the Northeast and the Western Ghats.
Why do people confuse them?
- Both are called "small bee" or "chhoti makkhi" honey in casual speech.
- Both are rare and premium-priced.
- Both come from small wild bees rather than box-kept bees.
How to tell from a label: look for the bee's scientific name. Apis florea means small bee honey. Tetragonula or "stingless" means stingless bee honey. If neither is stated, ask the seller.
How do they taste?
Small bee honey tastes like a rich multiflora honey: floral, sweet, with mild earthy notes, changing with the flowers in season. Stingless bee honey is noticeably different: thinner, with a sweet-sour or tangy finish that some people love and others find unusual.
Which one should you buy?
- For a rich, familiar honey with a rare story: choose small bee honey. Try Shuddhta Chhoti Makkhi Ka Shahad from Bundelkhand.
- For an unusual sweet-sour taste: stingless bee honey from a trusted regional producer.
Whichever you choose, the same rules apply: a named bee, a named region, no added sugar, and a batch test report. See how to choose the best raw honey in India.
Note: Shuddhta does not sell stingless bee honey. This comparison is to help you understand what you're buying.
Keep reading: 5 bee species found in India, types of honey in India and why rare honey costs more.
Frequently asked questions
Is small bee honey the same as stingless bee honey?
No. Small bee honey comes from Apis florea, a true honey bee. Stingless bee honey comes from stingless bees such as Tetragonula.
Which is rarer?
Both are scarce. Stingless bee colonies usually yield even less honey than small bee colonies.
Why is stingless bee honey sour?
It has more water and natural acids than most honey, partly because it is stored in resin pots, which gives it a tangy taste.
Chhoti makkhi aur dammar makkhi ke shahad mein kya fark hai?
Chhoti makkhi (Apis florea) asli madhumakkhi hai jo jhaadiyon par ek chhota khula chhatta banati hai. Dammar makkhi (stingless bee) ped ke khokhle ya deewar ki daraar mein rehti hai aur patla, khatta-meetha shahad banati hai. Dono alag hain.
About the author
Pranjal Patel is the founder of Shuddhta Organic and oversees sourcing in Bundelkhand, where Shuddhta's small bee honey is collected. Read our story.
Sources
- TNAU Agritech Portal: types of honey bees (Apis florea)
- Keystone Foundation Honey Portal: bee species of India
- Western Sydney University: stingless bee honey composition (dammar bee)
Last updated: 12 October 2026.
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