Successful African Beekeeping
  • Home/Beekeeping Step by Step
    • Why Promote African Beekeeping?
    • Types of Hives
    • Baiting & Placement
    • Maintaining Hives
    • Harvesting Honey
    • Processing Honey
    • Rendering Wax from Comb
    • Practical Tips
    • 6 Steps: Making Beeswax Starter Strips
    • 12 Steps: Honey From Hive to Table
  • Training
    • Trainees' Comments
    • Rulwa Valley 2021
    • Youth Training Seminar 2019
    • Iringa 2017 Nov-Dec
    • Rukwa Valley 2017 May
    • Kasulu 2016 Nov
    • Rukwa 2015 Nov
    • Songea/Korogwe May 2015
    • Ngarananyuki Dec 2013
    • Mahenge Dec 2013
    • Kijabe Kenya July 2013
  • Harvests
    • Rukwa Valley Harvest 2020
    • Rukwa Valley Harvest Report 2018
    • Rukwa Harvest May 2017
    • Kapenta Harvest May 2016
    • Kapenta Harvest May 2015
    • Kapenta Harvest May 2013
    • Lyanza Harvest Dec 2012
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12 Steps: Honey From Hive to Table

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Step No. 1: Use buddy system to check all suits. African bees are not known for their mercy.
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Step No. 2: Smoke your hive. Wait three minutes or so for the bees to calm by consuming honey from open comb.
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Step No. 3: Lower your hive and relocate it to the harvesting table.
Note: It is helpful if you carry the hive 20 or so meters away from the tree or apiary. Returning foragers will have a harder time finding you upon their return to the colony.


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Step No. 4: Remove the top of your hive. If a top bar variety, open from the back away from the doorway. Allow smoke to drift in moving the bees from the opening. Notice the ripened comb visible.
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Step No. 5: Harvest combs of capped honey. When you harvest, cut the combs free with a sharp knife leaving a centimeter of wax cappings so the bees can rebuild.
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Step No. 6: Clean honey comb of any bees. Remove any brood or pollen…prepare comb for pressing.

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Step No. 7: Wash hands and arms and put on latex gloves. Press, crush firmly removing all honey from comb. Place remains in a bucket to later render wax.
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Step No. 8: Roughly filter pressed honey, preparing it for the settling tank.
Note: These filters are available in all marketplaces.

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Step No. 9: Pour all filtered honey into a settling tank with a food grade gate valve affixed to the bottom of the tank. Honey will “filter” itself as all lighter material will float to the top. In 24-48 hours pure, clean honey will flow from the gate valve.

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Step No. 10: Take honey from settling tank to fill your jars.
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Step No. 11: Fill your jars, preparing them for market. We find that using a pitcher to fill our jars is better, easier than filling them directly from the settling tank.
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Step No. 12: Design stickers with your organization's logo on them to attract buyers. Be sure that the stickers are all put on correctly (straight and true).
Note: Buyers are looking for a perfect, clean looking product.

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