Rira Honey

Rira honey is produced in Rira village in the Ethiopian region of Oromia by the Arsi-Oromo people. They hang the hives on the highest tree branches of trees such as Cordia africana, Hagenia, and Podocarpus. The hives are traditionally made with a combination of bamboo, vines, and straw.

The bees make this unique honey from the nectar of different plants such as garamba, badesa, gale, and heto. It is this biodiversity that makes Rira honey unique and medicinally valuable. The honey is collected between April and May, at the end of the rainy season, only during the night, because African bees are very aggressive so appropriate clothing and skilled use of smoke are a necessity.

Rira honey has a creamy texture and a pale hazelnut color. The flavor is intense and fruity, with notes of malt and caramel. It is traditionally offered to guests with himbasha flatbread, local black cabbage, carrots, and potatoes. Unfortunately, the honey is currently not packaged, labeled, or sold due to a few problems regarding the collection of honey at just the right moment.