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Nepal climbs from lowland plains to Himalayan cliffs in a short distance, so honey here is not one thing. What bees find to eat changes with altitude and season, and the honey changes with it.
Sources last checked 1 November 2026
Honey is named in two ways: for the flower the bees worked, or for the bee that made it. These are the kinds we found good sources for.
Named for the flower
Flowers of mustard, rape and sarson (Brassica crops).
Sources: Amgai et al. 2026; Neupane et al. 2024
Named for the flower
Flowers of the chiuri, or butter tree (Diploknema butyracea), which is native to Nepal’s mountain areas.
Sources: FAO, Chiuri honey; Kathmandu Post, Feb 2025; Amgai et al. 2026
Named for the bee
Made by Apis laboriosa, the Himalayan giant honey bee, in open combs on steep cliffs.
Sources: Dialogue Earth, 2022; Kathmandu Post, May 2023
Named for the bee
Made by Apis dorsata, the giant honey bee, in single open combs hung from trees and cliffs.
Sources: Qamer et al. 2008; FAO, Honeybees of the genus Apis
Also named among Nepal’s prized honeys
Source: Amgai et al. 2026
Wild cliff honey needs care
Honey made from rhododendron nectar can contain grayanotoxin and cause poisoning, with dizziness, a slow heart rate and low blood pressure. Read more in the health guide.
A two-year survey in Kavrepalanchowk, in the mid-hills, counted 153 plant species that bees use. The number in flower swings sharply through the year: 104 in April, 11 in December.
The researchers treated March to May and September to November as the main honey flows. December, January, June and July were a dearth, and February and August were for building colonies back up. Other regions follow their own calendars. Chiuri honey, for example, is harvested between November and March in a Makwanpur village.
| Month | Flowering plants | Period |
|---|---|---|
| January | 15 | Dearth |
| February | 53 | Colony build-up |
| March | 93 | Honey flow |
| April | 104 | Honey flow |
| May | 68 | Honey flow |
| June | 40 | Dearth |
| July | 24 | Dearth |
| August | 29 | Colony build-up |
| September | 49 | Honey flow |
| October | 44 | Honey flow |
| November | 41 | Honey flow |
| December | 11 | Dearth |
Sources: Neupane et al. 2024; Kathmandu Post, Feb 2025
Honey is mostly sugar and water. Vitamins and minerals are present only in trace amounts: a tablespoon has about 11 mg of potassium and little more than 1 mg of any other mineral. The sugars are mostly fructose and glucose.
This is generic honey, from USDA data. It is not a measurement of any Ghar Mauri product, and honey from different flowers varies. The comparison guide shows what published studies of Nepali honey measured.
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | Per tablespoon (21 g) |
|---|---|---|
| Energy and macronutrients | ||
| Energy | 304 kcal | 64 kcal |
| Water | 17.1 g | 3.6 g |
| Carbohydrate | 82.4 g | 17 g |
| Total sugars | 82.1 g | 17 g |
| Fibre | 0.2 g | 0.042 g |
| Protein | 0.3 g | 0.063 g |
| Fat | 0 g | 0 g |
| Minerals | ||
| Potassium | 52 mg | 11 mg |
| Calcium | 6 mg | 1.3 mg |
| Phosphorus | 4 mg | 0.84 mg |
| Sodium | 4 mg | 0.84 mg |
| Magnesium | 2 mg | 0.42 mg |
| Iron | 0.42 mg | 0.088 mg |
| Zinc | 0.22 mg | 0.046 mg |
| Vitamins | ||
| Vitamin C | 0.5 mg | 0.11 mg |
| Niacin | 0.121 mg | 0.025 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.038 mg | 0.008 mg |
| Folate | 2 µg | 0.42 µg |
What 100 g of honey is made of
The sugars in 100 g of honey
“Other” is the remainder after water, carbohydrate and protein. “Other sugars” is total sugars minus the four listed. Per-tablespoon values are calculated from the per-100 g figures.
Source: USDA FoodData Central
