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, only honey was on display and for sale in a small booth, and I noticed a phrase in a small pamphlet introducing the "cherry honey," so I asked about it, and was told that it was only available in Yamagata Prefecture. I asked a few questions there, but later on, I visited their home to learn more about honey, and ultimately about bees.

This article is an excerpt of the interview I conducted at Shindo Bee Farm. Please read to the end. You may find yourself growing fond of honeybees

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

Mariko Shindo of Shindo Bee Farm, who was participating in an event held in Yonezawa City, told us that they a "cherry" honey that that it is so popular that it sells out immediately when sold at an event in Tokyo . We requested an interview to hear more about it.

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 is busy taking care of the bees every day . He says he is now enjoying being involved with bees, saying, "Bees are fascinating! They're systematic and profound."

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

Honeybees collect pollen, the raw material for honey, and the hive, which is the basis of their lives, is made up of a single queen bee and a colony of several thousand to tens of thousands of worker bees

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 work tirelessly to collect pollen and raise their young. The lifespan of a worker bee is 40 days .

The amount of honey collected during its short life is about one teaspoon.

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 above the red label "cherry" honey and the blue label "acacia" honey . 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 Bee Farm and immediately tried out the honey.
of the four types of honey - acacia, cherry, chestnut, and lily - with a small spoon...and it was an eye-opener! I was surprised at how different the taste and aroma of honey is depending on the type of pollen.

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

The lily trees were planted on the vast grounds . Looking up, you can see the flowers blooming, which is why they are also known as tulip trees.

The honey from lilies, which are in full bloom right now , making it suitable for everyone.

The pollen collected by the bees at Shindo Bee Farm comes from They move in accordance with the flowering season of the lilies

Pollination is essential for cherries to bear fruit. Honeybees help with this pollination, and we humans share the nectar they collect .

He has contracts with cherry farmers in Kaminoyama and Nanyo cities through the agricultural cooperative, and Shindo's bees are active for 10 days in pollination work, 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 profound." These words I first heard still remain in my mind.

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

Please check Shindo Bee Farm for upcoming sales events and other developments