Jara - Rare Honey and Its Tourism Potential
We all know how important it is to enhance the tourism potential of the country and identify the important elements that will contribute to the promotion and development of tourism opportunities. Jara honey is one of the most important and valuable issues that substantially differentiates and attracts more interest to the country from the point of view of tourism.
"Jara is a Georgian traditional bee hive, which has been used to domesticate bees in Georgia since ancient times. There is no exact evidence when Jara appeared in Georgia. However, according to the locals, the ancient inhabitants found bees in wooden huts and called that place in the forest "bee-tree".
Later, they realized that it was possible to transform the trees into "honey trees" in a similar way. They collected the bulk of wild bees and placed them in the middle of a specially cut wooden log. The made wooden logs were then placed in a spot inaccessible to bears on the trees.
It was these wooden logs that were called jaras. Later, after the invention of bee hives in the 19th century, Jara hives were significantly replaced by modern and easy-to-use bee hives. But in several places in western Georgia, Jara hives are still used for the production of wild honey jara. Jara honey is a very rare and high quality organic wild product found in Georgia.
It is 100% pure and wild honey. Today, technologies for honey production from wild bees are rare, however, Georgia is one of the rare places in the world where jara honey is still produced, particularly in villages in the subtropical and alpine zones of western Georgia. In these areas, dozens of beekeepers continue the difficult but ancient tradition of domesticating wild bees - which is an ideal example of the coexistence of humans and wildlife. "- Jara Beekeepers Association.
The aim of the Jara Beekeepers Association is to strengthen, present and protect the interests of Jara beekeepers. By contacting relevant stakeholders and assisting in the bio-certification process.
It will be interesting for you to watch a film that has won international awards and well describes the dizzying events surrounding Jara Honey.
Translated from Tourister.ge. Author: Liza Antadze