Sweet success: Jordan’s beekeepers busy as honey demand soars

Sweet success: Jordan’s beekeepers busy as honey demand soars

Jordan’s key tourism industry may have been hammered by COVID, but the pandemic gave a boost to another sector, keeping its beekeepers busy as demand for honey has soared. The country’s 4,000 apiarists have ramped up output of the sweet and sticky golden substance long praised for its anti-inflammatory and other health benefits. Even if there is no scientific consensus that honey helps fight COVID, many of those infected have used it to soothe symptoms such as sore throats.

“The COVID period in particular had a great, positive impact on us,” said beekeeper Mutasim Hammad, 48, who retired 12 years ago from the public security directorate and turned his hobby into his main job. “There was good demand for honey, and people got to know it,” added Hammad, dressed in a white protective suit while checking on his 80 bee hive boxes on a property in Irbid 90 kilometres (60 miles) north of Amman. “People have become more aware of the value of honey and are turning to the guaranteed locally produced honey,” said Hammad, who sells about 400 kilograms (880 pounds) a year.

The kingdom of Jordan prides itself on its 19 different types of honey, including citrus, eucalyptus and maple