Juri's Honey Story

Hello, I'm Juri, and I made your honey.

Keep scrolling to read your honey story.

My family and I live in the remote village of Suo-Suo, in Jambi, Central Sumatra where there is always honey for tea. It's also where our Sialang tree grows – the very same tree your honey came from.

We've been taking care of our Sialang for as long as I can remember, it's been passed down from generation to generation in my family.

As you can see, Sialang trees can grow quite tall, often reaching heights of 50 metres! And because their branches are so high up, the giant honeybees (Apis dorsata binghami) love to build their hives there. In just one tree, we can have as many as 30 hives.

Bees in our tree gather the nectar of local durian, bidaro, and kedondong trees. This mix gives your honey its colour and flavour. Just wait until you try it!

For centuries, the people of my village have been enjoying delicious wild honey. You know, it’s incredibly good for your health – it keeps your heart and your immune system strong.

Maybe that’s why many of us live for so long: I am 80 years young and I still feel full of energy!

Collecting wild forest honey is quite dangerous and not everyone can make their way up the towering branches.

In Sumatra, we call Sialang climbers ‘juaro’ which means champion. They must climb confidently while being careful to avoid getting stung along the way. It's a task only for the very brave, but the wonderful honey is certainly worth the climb.

The forest where our Sialang lives is part of an ecosystem restoration site managed by PT Alam Bukit Tigapuluh, or ABT as we know them.

You can see exactly where our tree is by clicking "Explore Map". The pin also tells you when it was harvested.

Explore Map

Your 30 Hills honey was made in partnership ABT and the ethical company JAVARA, with support from Partnerships for Forests. All of the profits are shared within my community, and it helps protect the Bukit Tigapuluh landscape.

Honey is a big source of income for my family. Having this partnership means I get a fair price, and can earn a lot more. The buying price is also stable, and I do not have to search for new buyers for every sale. For us, it has been life-changing!

But while local customs protect our trees and give penalties for cutting them down, sadly the trees are still at risk if the forests around them are cleared. I recently lost one of my Sialang trees to logging.

When you purchase Sialang honey, not only are you supporting families like mine, but you are also helping protect Indonesia’s remaining forests. For me, this is the best gift of all.

Thank you so much for your honey purchase. You made the best choice.

~ Juri

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