Where there are bees, there is BwS! In Tanzania, we have partnered with a private company, which works with a large number of beekeepers in the Kigoma region (we are talking 100s of beekeepers here!) The private company is well-established and operates in alignment with the BwS motto, which is to create positive social impact through income-generation. The beekeepers in Kigoma are paid premium prices for their honey and beeswax harvest. Our beekeepers practice both traditional and modern (Langstroth) beekeeping, though traditional beekeeping dominates. The popularity of traditional beekeeping stems from its low cost and low maintenance needs. It also produces a larger quantity of beeswax. Langstroth hives have the potential to produce larger volumes of honey but require regular maintenance and are also more expensive.
The Kigoma region produces three unique honey varietals: light amber, amber and dark amber. The light amber is harvested at the end of the long rainy season, usually June and July; the amber honey comes from the blooms of September and October, while the dark amber is produced in the short rainy season from October to December. Each has a unique taste with varying intensity. The flowers, nectar and pollen of each season also influence the color of each harvest, explaining the light to dark amber.
Back in 2019, BwS debuted on the UK market through participation in the UK’s Speciality and Fine Food Fair trade show – the UK’s leading showcase of artisanal food and drink, an industry event for the discovery of fine food and drinks for buyers across retail, hospitality, etc. The honey which was used for the trade show was the Tanzanian amber honey. Samplers gave us raving reviews! We knew then that we were on the right track! The pandemic of the past 2 years has slowed down our progress but we are still forging on and look forward to bringing these delicacies to retail outlets closer to you.
