In addition to the popularity stemming from its sweet taste, honey – which is derived from plant pollen collected by bees – is also used as traditional medicine to cure various common illnesses. A bee farm in Kampong Cham province is applying modern techniques to the pollination process.

Tith Sotheara, the bee keeper in question, said the Kingdom now has the depth of knowledge to raise bees, and the quality of their honey is the equal of any imported product.

“Through my apiculture business, I am helping Cambodian society in many ways. Firstly, I am supporting poor farmers by providing jobs and renting sites on their properties. As more and more Khmer people enjoy my products, we are helping to build the reputation of the Kingdom’s products. Finally, I have helped Kantha Bopha children’s hospital, both through financial contributions and from donations of honey,” she added.

She told The Post that the decision to establish her honey producing operation – in Koh Touch village, Peam Chikang commune, Kang Meas district, Kampong Cham province – was made because she had observed an abundance of the plants which provide pollen to bees.

“The Kingdom’s overall production remains low, as it is mostly harvested in the wild in the traditional way,” she said.

“I can raise honeybees while using only natural resources. This means I can provide honey to local people at a reasonable price,” she added.

Sotheara currently maintains about 200 beehives on her property, enough for her to harvest around three tonnes of honey per season. A season can last from two to four months.

Each of her 200 beehives contains 20,000 to 30,000 bees, which are all native Cambodian breeds.

Her bees collect honey from three types of flower – the kapok flower, the longan flower and the pará rubber flower, each of which produces a slightly different flavoured honey.

She said the nature of her keeping routine chances with the seasons, depending on which flower her bees are pollinating.

Her hives are moved from location to location, to ensure her bees have the best access to the chosen flowers.

The kapoks are currently in bloom, so she has moved her hives to a farm on the small island of Koh Thmey in Koh Touch village.

The kapoks will flower for around two months, so she expects to be able harvest twice.

“I studied the kapok flower and found that it has a pleasant scent. It flowers in the dry season, which is convenient for us, so we can collect good yields at this time of year. Honey from this kind of flower is very fragrant, and is effective against coughs and colds, perhaps due to having a slightly less sweet taste. It is also very thick honey,” she said.

“Before I harvest the honey, I examine the hives individually and check whether it is old enough to collect. I employ agricultural experts to advise me if I am uncertain. Generally it can be taken after a month,” she added.

Due to a clear harvesting schedule, the quality of her farmed honey is superior to that of wild honey. Because she can collect it at just the right time, its medicinal qualities are improved.

“One of the benefits of eating honey regularly is that it protects our immune system, so we do not become sick easily,” she said.

She has been keeping bees for three years. For the first two years of operation the business was run as a small handicraft, but thanks to very successful sales, she applied for a license to run it as a standard company.

She is more than happy to cooperate with other beekeepers, and hopes that the growth of her brand will lead to an increase in demand for Cambodia-farmed honey.

“If demand grows to beyond what I can supply, I will offer training to more local farmers, thus giving them another income stream,” she said.

Currently, about 80 per cent of her honey ends up in local cafes and restaurants.

According to Sotheara, her honey is currently only sold within the Kingdom.

“A Vietnamese wholesaler has been in talks with us, but the prices offered remain too low to accept,” she said.

“In the future, I would like to export my honey to countries like the US or China, where demand is high, often to supply beverage and medicine producers,” she added.