THE ART OF HALLUCINOGENIC HONEY HUNTING IN NEPAL

In the cliffs of the Himalayas in Nepal, the ancient practice of hunting hallucinogenic honey has been kept alive for generations. This special honey comes from the largest honeybees, Apis Dorsata Laboriosa, which gather nectar from rhododendron flowers containing grayanotoxins. These toxins give the honey its unique hallucinogenic effects.

The Gurung tribesmen, who have been practicing this tradition for centuries, take great risks to gather this mad honey. They climb steep cliffs, often without safety gear, to collect the honeycombs. The hallucinogenic honey holds significant value in their community, being used for medicinal purposes and as a means of income.

Photography by - @renan_ozturk & @jetbutterflies @ericvalli