"Peter Dillon" wrote:

> that Apis cerana. indica only produces approx. 3 to 5kg. of honey /year,

I was in Kerala, S. India, earlier this year and saw many very prosperous
cerana colonies.  Since returning home, I have exchanged many emails with
contacts out there and understand that they have had a very good year with
an extended flow from the rubber plantations.  The average yield had been
18kg per colony.

However, I would have some concerns about the quality of the honey, due to
processing methods.  I saw much galvanised equipment, including honey
storage tanks, and the very humid climate seems to give very wet honey - 4
samples that I was given tested at between 21.75% moisture (from mellifera
and 1 batch from cerana) to 23.75% (from cerana).  As far as I could
ascertain, honey was heated to quite high temperatures (bottles put into
water at near boiling point) in order to clear and prevent fermentation.  I
do not have the ability to test for HMF, but I suspect that levels may well
be higher than those allowed in the EU.

Peter Edwards
[log in to unmask]
www.stratford-upon-avon.freeserve.co.uk/

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