Jalisco Honey

Did you know that Jalisco is one of Mexico's honey capitals?

I recently learned that while Jalisco is famous around the world for tequila, it's also one of the country's top honey-producing states.

Honey has deep roots in this region. Long before the arrival of European honeybees, Indigenous communities, including the Wixárika people, valued native stingless bees for their honey, medicinal uses, and even their wax, which was used in traditional artwork.

Jalisco's diverse landscapes produce unique varieties of honey. Some are light and delicate, like prized mezquite honey, while others are naturally creamy and spreadable, known locally as "butter honey."

Jalisco honey is highly sought after internationally. Much of it is exported to Europe, where strict quality standards make Mexican honey, especially from Jalisco, a favorite among gourmet food lovers.

One fascinating fact: beekeepers in parts of Jalisco still use aromatic copal resin in their smokers, a tradition with roots dating back to pre-Hispanic times. And in cities like Guadalajara, bee rescue teams relocate wild hives rather than destroy them, helping protect these essential pollinators.

Have you ever tried local Jalisco honey?

My Puerto Vallarta Daily