What is Shindo Bee Farm's "Cherry Honey"? [Yamagata Prefecture]

I had always thought that beekeeping was something that was done in remote areas

To be honest, I didn't have very positive feelings towards bees, so I never imagined that it would be happening so close to a residential area... This was my first time visiting a beekeeping farm to hear more about it

It was at one event that I met Mr. Shindo, who runs a beekeeping business

At the event, they had a small booth where they were only displaying and selling honey."cherry honey"and, intrigued, asked about it. I learned that it was only available in Yamagata Prefecture. I asked a few questions on the spot, but I wanted to learn more about honey, and by extension, bees, so I visited their home a few days later.

This article is an excerpt from an interview conducted at the home of Shindo Beekeeping Farm. Please read it to the end. By the time you finish reading, youhoneybeesmight find yourself feeling affectionate towards

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In search of "cherry honey" made only in Yamagata Prefecture

I met Mariko Shindo of Shindo Beekeeping Farm, who was participating in an event held in Yonezawa City. I heard that shea cherry blossom honey thatit is sold at events in Tokyothat it is so popular that it sells out immediately when. I wanted to hear more details, so I requested an interview.

He kindly agreed, and we visited his home (beekeeping farm). We listened to his story, our eyes glued to the beehives scattered among the large trees

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Did you get into beekeeping because you kept bees as pets?

Shindo Bee Farm was founded with just two beehives

It all started when Mariko's uncle, who we spoke to this time, started keeping bees as a kind of pet

After her uncle passed away due to poor health, Mariko's father took over the business about 35 years ago, feeling it would be a shame to abandon the bees. Her son, Kenichi, is now the successor, and her sister, Mariko, also runs the beekeeping business

What started as just two beehives has now grown to over 50, and he says he spends his days diligently taking care of the bees. He now enjoys being involved with bees,"Bees are fascinating! They're systematic and have a lot of depth."saying,

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Before we talk about honey, let's talk about bees!

Honeybees, which collect pollen that is the raw material for honey, live in hives, which are the foundation of their livesof a queen bee and a colony of several thousand to tens of thousands of worker beesconsist

The queen bee is two to three times larger than the worker bees and lays 1,500 eggs every day. To do this, the worker bees risk their lives to collect and carry pollen, which they use as food

The queen bee's lifespan is about four years, which is 30 to 40 times longer than that of a worker bee, and she leaves offspring

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Does one bee produce one teaspoon of honey?

They diligently collect pollen and continue working to raise their young.The lifespan of a worker bee is 40 days.

a teaspoonfulis only about

With the help of these worker bees, beekeepers move the hives according to the flowering season and collect honey from each flower

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Honey has a unique taste!

The image abovecherry honey with a red label and acacia honey with a blue label. These mini bottles are recommended for those who want to try different flavors.

The honey harvested from each flower is available in three different bottles, including the mini bottles sold at the event, cute bear-shaped containers, and larger bottles that can be used for a large amount of food

The taste and color of honey varies depending on the flowers the bees collect

Later, I visited Shindo Beekeeping Farm and was given the opportunity to do a tasting.
four types of honey—acacia, cherry, chestnut, and tulip tree—with a small spoon, and...it was an eye-opener! I was surprised to learn that the taste and aroma of honey vary greatly depending on the type of pollen used.

First, we tried the popular Acacia, which had a mild sweetness without being too strong

Next, I took a lick of the cherry honey and it had a faint cherry blossom scent. Perhaps it was the synergy of the taste and aroma, but it reminded me of sakura mochi (cherry rice cakes)

The honey made from the pollen of chestnuts that are currently in full bloom on the grounds of Mr. Shindo's house is, in fact, chestnut! If you close your eyes and lick it, you might mistake the taste and aroma for marron glacé

Chestnut honey has a strong flavor, but it goes well with pizza, and the sweet and salty taste is addictive, so be sure to give it a try

on the vast groundsto provide a place for bees to work. Looking up, I saw the flowers in bloom, which are the reason they are also called tulip trees.

which were in full bloom just now, has a mild flavor and a smooth texture, making it suitable for everyone.

The bees at Shindo Apiary collect pollen from cherry and mountain cherry trees,between these locations according to the flowering seasons of the tulip trees and other flowersThey move

For cherries to bear fruit, pollination is absolutely essential. We rely on honeybees for this pollination process, and we humans get to enjoy the honey they collect.

Shindo has contracts with cherry farmers in Kaminoyama City and Nanyo City through the agricultural cooperative, andhis bees work tirelessly for 10 days during the pollination process, collecting nectar that becomes precious cherry honey.

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After visiting Shindo Bee Farm

The area around Mariko's house is surrounded by a rural mountain landscape, and the time passed so comfortably that it was easy to forget the passage of time

Furthermore, the view from inside the room, with lovely climbing roses blooming on the windowsill and ivy and honeysuckle entwined around the hut, made it look like a rural English town

After hearing about the life cycle of a honeybee, you will find yourself feeling a sense of love for the bee that wanders in through an open window

Mariko, who had lived in Tokyo and overseas, returned to her hometown and now helps out with her parents' beekeeping business.The secret to enjoying both work and life in Tohoku is "excitement."

"Bees are fascinating! They're systematic and have a lot of depth."These words, which I first heard, still resonate with me today.

Shindo Bee Farm <Information>

• Name: Shindo Bee Garden
• Phone number: 090-6458‐282
• e-mail: applehoney2299@gmail.com

Currently, Shindo Bee Farm does not have any retail stores or wholesale business, so products can only be purchased at sales events held in each region

For information on future events such as sales events,Shindo Beekeeping Farmplease check