Beekeepers happy about taste not quantity of honey

Take note – story published 8 years ago

Beekeeping is one of the Latvian national pastimes, or at least it was until recent years. This year, due to a rather cold spring, beekeepers can savor the taste of only what little of honey the bees have made, though it is unusually delicious this year.

"The first honey is sweet, but there could have been more of it," ponders one beekeeper from Latgale. Many of the beehives are open to tourists, bringing some much needed funds to cash-strapped apiculturists.

Tradition runs deep in beekeeping. Aija Dvinska, owner of the "Meža Skuķi" farm near Daugavpils, learned the profession and received the hives from her father, who in turn had received them from his grandfather. She is sure that there's still place for ancient traditions in beekeeping.

"I like it here. As I grow older, the city holds less and less allure," said Aija, who works in Riga and receives guests to her father's farm. 

Tourists can take a look inside the hive at the peak of the honey season, and taste fresh honey with the very wax cells holding it. A number of beekeepers in Latgale have opened their doors to the public like Aija has.

There's still plenty of work for the bees, though, as they'll continue to gather honey while the weather is still good.

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