Bee Mine, Valentine?

Though he's best known as the patron saint of lovers, St. Valentine is also the protector of plague victims, epilepsy sufferers, and beekeepers. In honor of the saint's sweetest jurisdiction, here's a collection of giant bees, unique apiaries, and rare honey varieties.

by Michelle Cassidy

12 Items

Kangaroo Island Council, Australia

Kangaroo Island Bee Sanctuary

An island off the coast of South Australia is home to the last purebred Ligurian bees.

Reina Gattuso

Added by Reina Gattuso

'World's Largest Killer Bee'

A statue in the Texas town that proudly calls itself the killer bee capital of the world.

timheaney

Added by timheaney

Harenna Honey

Gastro Obscura

Ingredients & Condiments

Harenna Honey

In an Ethiopian forest, a dying breed of beekeepers scales dangerously tall trees to harvest nectar from handmade hives.

Gastro Obscura

rachelrummel

Added by rachelrummel

Queens, New York

Brooklyn Grange Farms and Apiary

Two New York rooftops are home to the largest rooftop soil farms in the world.

Leslie McIntyre

Added by Leslie McIntyre

White Kiawe Honey

Gastro Obscura

Ingredients & Condiments

White Kiawe Honey

This pristine honey with a cool menthol aftertaste is produced by honeybees that feast on a Hawaiian mesquite forest.

Gastro Obscura

Rohini Chaki

Added by Rohini Chaki

Florissant, Colorado

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

The largest source of fossilized insects anywhere.

Added by Facebook1232091731

Grilled Bee Honeycomb With Larvae

Gastro Obscura

Grilled Bee Honeycomb With Larvae

The Laotian street food is mildly sweet and surprisingly juicy.

Gastro Obscura

Added by trevorxtravesty

Musteika, Lithuania

Ancient Beekeeping Museum

A tiny traditional village keeps an ancient method of beekeeping alive.

Dzukijosuoga

Added by Dzukijosuoga

Tasmanian Leatherwood Honey

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Ingredients & Condiments

Tasmanian Leatherwood Honey

Bees get a lift from helicopters in order to produce this spicy honey.

Gastro Obscura

Anne Ewbank

Added by Anne Ewbank

Kato Kastania, Greece

Kastania Cave

This remarkable cave was discovered after a shepherd watched bees enter and exit through a small fissure.

Added by Liza B

Tupelo Honey

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Ingredients & Condiments

Tupelo Honey

Beekeepers in the United States' southeastern swamplands are fighting to preserve this smooth, sweet delicacy.

Gastro Obscura

Rohini Chaki

Added by Rohini Chaki

San Jose, California

First Honey Bees in California

A plaque outside the San Jose airport commemorates the insect's arrival to the West Coast.

James Ricci

Added by James Ricci

Map