1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: I'm so excited to talk about honey. 2 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 2: I love honey. I have a million different types of 3 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 2: honey in my pantry. I mean, I know a million salt 4 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 2: and a million mustards. 5 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: Then let me tell you all, honey is not created equal. 6 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:16,040 Speaker 1: There's a lot of honey I have in my pantry 7 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 1: I do not. 8 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 2: Like depending on what the bees are eating or what 9 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:24,959 Speaker 2: pollen they're collecting from what plants, it tastes completely different. 10 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:27,160 Speaker 2: I mean, honey, I think is magical. 11 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 1: It's so magical. It is really magical. And you and 12 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:33,599 Speaker 1: I cosplayed as bees and better Cruz, we helped pollinate 13 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:36,240 Speaker 1: the vanilla plant. I don't know if it was a cosplay, 14 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 1: if we were cosplaying a bee, or if we were 15 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: if we create made a baby with the vanilla plant, 16 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:43,480 Speaker 1: but her boat we'll talk about that. We'll talk about 17 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:43,920 Speaker 1: that later. 18 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 2: I think, yeah, I think you and I may have 19 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 2: been bees in another life because we were really good 20 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 2: at it. 21 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 1: So today's episode is all about the sweet history of honey. 22 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 1: My name is Evil Longoria and I am Myra and 23 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 1: welcome Too Hungry for History, a podcast that explores our 24 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:05,759 Speaker 1: past and present through food. 25 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 2: On every episode, we'll talk about the history of some 26 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 2: of our favorite dishes, ingredients and beverages. 27 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: From our culture. So make yourself at home. He went, 28 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 1: I didn't realize how much I loved, honey. You know. 29 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:22,040 Speaker 1: We were in Vaya the Bravo, which is you know, 30 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 1: the lakeside of Mexico City, outside of Mexico City, and 31 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:29,840 Speaker 1: this new little farm opened up and they have all 32 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 1: these little animals, and so Santy could hold the chickens 33 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:35,080 Speaker 1: and be with baby chicki's and he could feed the goats, 34 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:38,040 Speaker 1: and he can pet the cows. And they have all 35 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 1: these beehives. So Santi got to put on the whole thing, 36 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 1: like you know, the head thing and the boots and 37 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:46,120 Speaker 1: the gloves, and he was taking out all the honeycombs 38 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 1: and the bees are everywhere, and he loved it. He 39 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 1: was like, Mom, I think I'm going to be I'm 40 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 1: to be a bee keeper. I was like, it was 41 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: so cool. So I want them now, I want them, 42 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 1: like here, I want I want to have my I 43 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 1: had bees growing up. My dad had bees growing up. 44 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 1: Of course you did, yes, yes, we did. We made 45 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:09,360 Speaker 1: our own, honey. Oh man, that is so cool. I 46 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:12,959 Speaker 1: have to meet your dad, I know. And by the way, 47 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:15,679 Speaker 1: it's labor intensive and super sticky, like it's not fun. 48 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:17,520 Speaker 1: As a kid, You're just like, this is dumb. This 49 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 1: is like a lot of labor for one jar of honey. 50 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 1: But honey luss it has a long shelf life. Yeah, 51 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:26,920 Speaker 1: it's so good. We would chew the wax once we 52 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 1: poked out all of the honey and it just drips 53 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 1: and drips. Then that wax kind of dries out, and 54 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 1: that was a gum for us. We would chew on 55 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 1: it like gum. It was the best. What variety of 56 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 1: honey do you like the best? Gosh? I like, I 57 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 1: mean different kinds. 58 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 2: I mean I love buckwheat honey that has it's kind 59 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 2: of an earthy kind of flavor that's really kind of strong. 60 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 2: I love like lavender honey, like wildflyer honey. Usually when 61 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 2: I go to like a farmer's market, or when I 62 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 2: travel or go on a road trip and we stop 63 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 2: at little stores, I always pick up honeys from always 64 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 2: whatever the region, so because it just tastes so different 65 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 2: than what you could buy at the store, you know. 66 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 1: But you know it's a bunny. I do too. If 67 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:14,959 Speaker 1: there's somebody in Mexico, whether I'm in Wajaka or Gudalaccara 68 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 1: or wherever, and they're on the side of the road 69 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 1: selling honey. I'm like, stop that. And my husband's always like, 70 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 1: we don't need honey. I was like, we do need honey. 71 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 1: I need honey from this region. Like I have to yea, 72 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:28,960 Speaker 1: buy it. It's the one thing I think I do hoard. Yeah, 73 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 1: I'm the same. 74 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 2: Actually, I have to stop because it all tastes different 75 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 2: and you don't really notice the differences until you taste 76 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 2: them side by side, right, Otherwise it's just it's just sweet. 77 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 2: But it just it's so connected to the land and all, 78 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 2: yes exactly, Like there's wild flower honey that they can 79 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 2: be eating from wild blossoms and flowers, and then there's 80 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:53,839 Speaker 2: like acacia honey, right that is from the nector of trees. Right, 81 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 2: they're eating the nectar on the tree, and that is 82 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 2: like a very different taste if they're like getting it 83 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 2: from a flower or getting it from alfalfa or getting 84 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 2: it from a tree bark. Like that's why it's all 85 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 2: so different. 86 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 1: I think I fell in love with bees when I 87 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 1: knew that they like to get drunk, right, I mean, 88 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 1: is that that's basically how they make honey, is that 89 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 1: they just get drunk. 90 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 2: Well, sometimes they get drunk. I mean if they have 91 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 2: fermented nectar, then they can get drunk. 92 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 1: But they are like a little drunk human. They become 93 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 1: less coordinated, they have difficulty flying that they can become 94 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:35,000 Speaker 1: so drunk that they can't move it all. They just 95 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: lie on their backs. But what happens. What happens when 96 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 1: a drunk bee returns to the hive, does it like, go, guys, 97 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:42,479 Speaker 1: I need a break? They do? 98 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 2: Those drunk bees, the little party bees. But there's there 99 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 2: are guard bees around the hive, and they will realize 100 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:52,040 Speaker 2: that the bee is drunk because of the way that 101 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 2: it's flying, because it's flying in like you know whatever, it's. 102 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:58,719 Speaker 1: Like like the drunk person. Yeah, drunk flying. 103 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 2: They don't let them in. These guard bees don't let 104 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 2: them in because that fermented Because that fermented nectar that 105 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:09,040 Speaker 2: the drunk bee is carrying could damage the honey and 106 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:12,840 Speaker 2: the hive and that would cause the entire food supply 107 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:17,040 Speaker 2: of the hive to go bad. So once the drunk 108 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 2: beak has sobered up and they're no longer carrying this 109 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 2: fermented honey, then they can allow it back in. But 110 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 2: these rejected bees. Sometimes they just don't hang around and 111 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:32,240 Speaker 2: they can't keep themselves safe, and so you know, they'll 112 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 2: either crash into dree and I or they'll get eaten by. 113 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:38,480 Speaker 1: You know, a spider web. I see so many bees 114 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:43,600 Speaker 1: in spider webs. I bet you those were drunk bees. Maybe, yes, maybe. 115 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 1: Every time I see a spider web, I'm like, oh, 116 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 1: they got a bee. No, it's so funny. He ran 117 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:50,320 Speaker 1: into the spider web because he was drunk. Because he 118 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 1: was drunk. Oh my god. Is that where the word 119 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 1: buzzed comes from. I'm a little buzzed. 120 00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:58,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't know, I know, I don't know if 121 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 2: that's where it comes from, but there's a Benjamin Franklin 122 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 2: wrote The Drinker's Dictionary in seventeen thirty seven, and he 123 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:15,040 Speaker 2: refers to the word buzzy as indicating drunkenness, and this 124 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 2: term his head is full of bees to indicate that 125 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:21,520 Speaker 2: someone is drunk. So this is an early reference to 126 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 2: this term buzz which is, you know, you're not drunk, 127 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 2: but you're kind of happy and just slightly in. 128 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 1: Talxic, I look, I like a good buzz. Yeah, I 129 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:32,480 Speaker 1: like a good buzz. Maybe I was a bee in 130 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:35,359 Speaker 1: my past life. Maybe we were bees in past lives 131 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:37,839 Speaker 1: rather well, we didn't live long because we would have 132 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:41,479 Speaker 1: been the drunk ones. Oh my gosh, I now we're 133 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:43,760 Speaker 1: not allowed to enter the hive and then we've got 134 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:49,040 Speaker 1: eaten by predator and died totally, totally, totally, So what's 135 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 1: the buzzy sound? What's the the is that their wings. 136 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 2: It is the happens when the bees contract the muscles 137 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:59,920 Speaker 2: in their thorax and that causes their wings to fly, 138 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 2: you know, a lot, and their bodies to vibrate, and 139 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 2: it sounds like they're buzzy. 140 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:08,800 Speaker 1: Edward o' wilson. One of my favorite books is this 141 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 1: biology book. It's actually a hard book. I had to 142 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 1: look up every third word. I'm like, what is that word. 143 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:17,320 Speaker 1: It's called The Social Conquest of Earth and it talks 144 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:21,400 Speaker 1: about why termites, bees and ants have been around for 145 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 1: millions of years, and it's because they are born into 146 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: their labor so they're very good when it comes to 147 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 1: working together. They're very cooperative society termites, ants, and bees, 148 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 1: so we can learn so much from bees when it 149 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 1: comes to working together. So when we come back, we'll 150 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 1: talk about the process of making honey stay with us. 151 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:53,000 Speaker 1: So let's get into the science of it. Because the 152 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:57,239 Speaker 1: organization and the production plan of it all for bees 153 00:07:57,280 --> 00:08:01,000 Speaker 1: to make honey, it's actually unbelievable how or intensive it is, 154 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:05,720 Speaker 1: and how this intricate process has so many steps of honeymaking. 155 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:10,800 Speaker 2: It really is unbelievable, the way the fact that they 156 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 2: are so incredibly organized, and they're female of course, like 157 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:21,440 Speaker 2: they work together, they get things done, and they're so organized. 158 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:26,680 Speaker 2: But the honeymaking process is just extremely involved. So first 159 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 2: the worker bees they leave their hive to collect the 160 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:33,560 Speaker 2: nectar from flowers, right, and they use these like their 161 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:36,679 Speaker 2: tongues to suck up the nectar, which which is this 162 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 2: sugary liquid produced by flowers. And this is the sugary 163 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 2: liquid that ferments, and this is what causes them to 164 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 2: become drunk. 165 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 1: So that's what they forage. They forage for the nectar. 166 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 2: First they store it in the special part of their 167 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 2: stomach and there it's mixed with enzymes to begin to 168 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 2: break down the sugar. 169 00:08:55,880 --> 00:08:56,880 Speaker 1: So they forage. 170 00:08:56,920 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 2: Me it's amazing how this is all happening in their 171 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 2: little It's amazing. It's probably, I mean, how many drops 172 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 2: of honey could there be, so they form perby it's crazy, right, yeah. 173 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 1: And then okay, so then it's stored in their stomach 174 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:13,880 Speaker 1: mixed with enzymes to break down the sugar. And then 175 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:14,760 Speaker 1: they go back to the. 176 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 2: Hive and they go back to the hive and they 177 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 2: regurgitate the nectar into the house bee inside the hive. 178 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:26,240 Speaker 1: So they vomit up this nectar that was that was 179 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 1: stored in their stomach exactly exactly. That's good. 180 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 2: And then inside the hive, the nectar is deposited into 181 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 2: these wax cells, these hexagonal wax cells, and the bees 182 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:43,280 Speaker 2: fanned their wings to create airflow to help evaporate the 183 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:47,640 Speaker 2: water from the nectar, and then it starts thickening into honey. 184 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:52,640 Speaker 1: Once the honey has been dehydrated, it becomes thick and 185 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:54,679 Speaker 1: syr be and then it's honey. 186 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:57,920 Speaker 2: And then it's honey. And then the bees then seal 187 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:00,160 Speaker 2: the cells with wax to preserve the honey. 188 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:02,319 Speaker 1: How do they seal the cell with wax? 189 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:04,720 Speaker 2: I don't know how they do it, but they do this. 190 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 2: It's just it just blows my mind that they are 191 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 2: able to do this. A honey serves as a food 192 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 2: source for this entire colony of bees in the hive, 193 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:17,120 Speaker 2: especially during the winter when the flowers aren't blooming and 194 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:21,560 Speaker 2: nectar is not that available. And so, like we said before, 195 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:25,480 Speaker 2: it's just this honey is a reflection of the natural environment, right, 196 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 2: and every hive will have a different you know, flavor 197 00:10:29,559 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 2: and texture, flavor depending on where. 198 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:36,240 Speaker 1: It is, color everything. Yeah, well, bees are highly organized, 199 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:38,440 Speaker 1: because so they must be women. I feel like there's 200 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:41,720 Speaker 1: more women bees than male bees. What type of bees? 201 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 1: What are their roles in the in the beehive. 202 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:47,720 Speaker 2: So there's the queen bee that's the single reproductive female 203 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:50,680 Speaker 2: in the entire hive, right, and she only mates once 204 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:54,439 Speaker 2: in her lifetime with different drones, and the drones are male, 205 00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 2: different drones in a single flight. And after mating, she 206 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 2: stores the sperm to for lizes eggs for the rest 207 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 2: of her life, so she could lay up to yeah, 208 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:08,320 Speaker 2: two thousand eggs per day, and she releases pheromones to 209 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 2: maintain order and unity, so she the queen bee, can 210 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:13,360 Speaker 2: live up to five years. 211 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 1: She only really has sex once, that's it, and then 212 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 1: saves all the sperm for the rest of her life. 213 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:26,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's it isn't crazy, it's just wait here blows 214 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 2: my mind. 215 00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 1: That blows my mind. Queen bee, she should be that's 216 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:34,880 Speaker 1: a good title. You know what's funny, Queen, I. 217 00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 2: Thought worker bees were all the males. No, the worker 218 00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 2: bees are all the female female. Worker bees are all female, 219 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 2: but they don't reproduce. They perform all the tasks needed 220 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 2: for the hive, all the foraging and the cleaning and 221 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:52,199 Speaker 2: the guarding, everything for survival, so that all the worker 222 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:54,280 Speaker 2: bees make up the majority of the hive. There's like 223 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:57,560 Speaker 2: tens of thousands, and they live just a few weeks 224 00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 2: in the summer and some some months in the winter. 225 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 1: But like I used to think, there was one queen 226 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:05,680 Speaker 1: bee and then the worker bees were all the dudes. No, 227 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:07,840 Speaker 1: the worker bees are the chicks. 228 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:10,960 Speaker 2: Yes, that's why. This is why it's so organized, because 229 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 2: it's all females and everybody has a role. The male 230 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:18,360 Speaker 2: bees are the drone bees, and the male's sole purpose 231 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 2: is to meete with a queen. They don't have stingers, 232 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 2: they don't collect food, they die after mating, and they're 233 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 2: expelled from the hive before winter. So it's only about 234 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 2: ten to fifteen percent of the hives population is male. 235 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:34,360 Speaker 2: And these are these h wait, how much ten to 236 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:35,120 Speaker 2: fifteen percent. 237 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:41,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, bees are female. Yeah, the cool What that is 238 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:43,400 Speaker 1: the coolest thing I've ever heard. 239 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:46,719 Speaker 2: It's so cool. It's so cool, but I knew it. 240 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:50,199 Speaker 1: I mean, something that produces the most beautiful product, like honey, 241 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:52,440 Speaker 1: it has to be done by a woman. It has 242 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:56,000 Speaker 1: to be with such care. Female is And what about 243 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:56,959 Speaker 1: the bouncer bees? 244 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:00,160 Speaker 3: Those guards outside the hives are those Those are the 245 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 3: bouncer bees that act like a bouncer outside of a 246 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:05,920 Speaker 3: human bar, and they are the ones that are inspecting 247 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 3: the bees that are coming home. 248 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:10,680 Speaker 2: Their job is to protect the colony. They check for 249 00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:16,439 Speaker 2: intruders such as drunk bees and also wasps or bees 250 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 2: that are coming from a different colony to try to 251 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:23,240 Speaker 2: come in and steal the honey. And so they they're 252 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 2: the ones that are that are guarding outside of each hive. 253 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:30,480 Speaker 2: There are about ten to twenty bouncers bouncer. 254 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 1: Bees, but those are female guards. Those are female. 255 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 2: And the and the house bee that the worker bees 256 00:13:37,559 --> 00:13:42,200 Speaker 2: regurgitate their you know, honey into are also female. So 257 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 2: super cool, it's super cools. 258 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:50,839 Speaker 1: It's insane. But I also like the symbolism that they've 259 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:54,840 Speaker 1: had throughout history. They've been like deeply symbolic throughout history. 260 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:58,400 Speaker 1: They represent you know, a lot of special qualities like 261 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:03,200 Speaker 1: diligence and hard working and community and fertility. So I 262 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:06,959 Speaker 1: just feel like across cultures they've been revered as these 263 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:11,959 Speaker 1: creatures of both natural significance but also divine significance, and 264 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 1: they play like these essential roles in human life and 265 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 1: agriculture religion, like I've always read, you know, they're in 266 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 1: every part of history because they're so old. They really 267 00:14:23,640 --> 00:14:24,800 Speaker 1: are very old species. 268 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:27,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's such an old species and I love that. 269 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 2: You know, there's so much poetry around them as well. 270 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 2: Like the ancient Egyptians believed that honey bees sprung from 271 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 2: the tears of the sun god, and so this association 272 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 2: between bees and honey they were just considered sacred. You know, 273 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 2: Greek mythology, they're associated with Artemis and Demeter, goddesses of 274 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 2: nature and fertility and you know, wisdom. Again, this idea 275 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:57,080 Speaker 2: of diligence and tireless labor as a metaphor for human industriousness. 276 00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 1: We could learn so much from bees. Yeah, I found 277 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 1: out that the bee became like the emblem of the 278 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 1: French monarchy under Louis the fourteenth, who adopted it as 279 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 1: his like personal symbol because he wanted it to symbolize 280 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 1: the monarch's power and authority and unity of the kingdom. 281 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:20,080 Speaker 1: And I was like, that's so interesting that he chose 282 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 1: the bee. 283 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:25,560 Speaker 2: I know, it makes sense. And even among Native American tribes, 284 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:29,760 Speaker 2: be often symbolized, you know, community and corporation and working 285 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 2: together to a common goal and this idea of the 286 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 2: best social structure. It's just so organized. Every member has 287 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 2: a distinct role, and it was seen as a metaphor 288 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 2: for tribal cooperation and unity and again also associated with 289 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 2: fertility and abundance. And they are essential pollinators for so 290 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 2: many different plants, you know, it's a link to the 291 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:58,320 Speaker 2: Earth's fertility has made them important for so many agricultural 292 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 2: communities around the world. The earliest recorded image of a 293 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:06,000 Speaker 2: human foraging honey is eight thousand years old, and it's 294 00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 2: from the Cueva de la Regne cave paintings in Valencia, Spain. 295 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:15,840 Speaker 1: We see these, No, no, I'm not, but that was 296 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:19,120 Speaker 1: eight thousand years ago. It's interesting because that's not long ago, 297 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:23,240 Speaker 1: considering bees are one hundred and twenty million years old. 298 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, so, people, this is the first image of foraging honey. Right, 299 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:33,680 Speaker 2: So the first time that we see this idea of 300 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 2: making honey like foraging or harnessing the power of bees 301 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 2: to produce honey, we see in Babylonian and Samarian writings 302 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:45,200 Speaker 2: that go back about twenty one hundred BC. 303 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 1: So, but it's also it makes sense because honey has 304 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:52,840 Speaker 1: this ability to be preserved. So, you know, obviously in 305 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 1: these times where you don't have refrigerators or anything like that, 306 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:01,640 Speaker 1: like you know, I'm sure they the preserving of the 307 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:05,360 Speaker 1: honey was easy, and supposedly the Egyptians used it in 308 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:10,960 Speaker 1: embalming practices to mummify bodies to prevent decay. Oh my gosh. 309 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:13,399 Speaker 2: It's so interesting. And in addition to that, you know, 310 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:16,639 Speaker 2: preserving food and all of that, it's also recognized for 311 00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 2: having antibacterial healing properties, so it's been used to treat 312 00:17:21,119 --> 00:17:25,160 Speaker 2: wounds and burns and infections, and it's still used for that. 313 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:29,960 Speaker 2: You know, today, when we come back, we'll talk about 314 00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:32,440 Speaker 2: the vital role bees play in our food supply. 315 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:42,960 Speaker 1: So remember when we were in Bedagruz and there was 316 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:45,960 Speaker 1: a special kind of bee in Mexico that pollinated the 317 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:49,800 Speaker 1: vanilla plant, the vanilla flower, and he has like a 318 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:56,360 Speaker 1: we she probably she has a very long arched stinger 319 00:17:56,800 --> 00:18:00,399 Speaker 1: because the vanilla orchid, which is an orchid, is like 320 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 1: hard to get to. It's hard to it's hard to pollinate, 321 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 1: and so these bees were like super special bees. Do 322 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:08,879 Speaker 1: you know the names of those bees that pollinated the 323 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:13,040 Speaker 1: vanilla plant, the Bompona bees. Are they extinct or endangered? 324 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 2: Bompona? And then there's also the Melipona bees. They are endangered, 325 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:22,239 Speaker 2: They're in danger. And so bees have played really a 326 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:26,480 Speaker 2: very significant role in the history of Mexico for thousands 327 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 2: of years, including to pollinate the vanilla arcid for vanilla. 328 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 1: So you know why the melepona bee, which is a 329 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:39,119 Speaker 1: stingless bee native to Yucatan, it's endangered because of the 330 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:43,439 Speaker 1: use of pesticide. Yah, yeah, I know. The use of 331 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:47,639 Speaker 1: pesticides are really it's serious. It's serious. We need our bees, 332 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:50,720 Speaker 1: and that particular bee, the Melipona is a is a 333 00:18:50,760 --> 00:18:54,600 Speaker 1: symbol of Mexican heritage, particularly in yukatt And I didn't 334 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 1: know this, but Mexico is one of the largest honey 335 00:18:56,640 --> 00:19:00,960 Speaker 1: producers in the world. No, I do not know. Yeah, yeah, 336 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:01,800 Speaker 1: it's up there. 337 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:05,000 Speaker 2: It's like top ten of the biggest honey producers, and 338 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:10,840 Speaker 2: they produce mostly European bees that were brought over, but 339 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 2: some also from native bees. 340 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:16,159 Speaker 1: I never kill a bee because I had heard like, 341 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:18,919 Speaker 1: don't kill a bee because we need them. They're like 342 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:22,159 Speaker 1: vital for biodiversity totally. 343 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:24,600 Speaker 2: I never kill any insects. I'm the person that when 344 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:27,199 Speaker 2: there's a spider in the house or something abug in 345 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:30,280 Speaker 2: the house, everyone's like, might they cut And I'll just 346 00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:32,639 Speaker 2: get the bee and put it outside, Get the whatever 347 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:34,440 Speaker 2: it is and put it outside. I will never kill 348 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:39,400 Speaker 2: an insect, but now, especially bees, I'm going to bow 349 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:42,880 Speaker 2: to them when I see them. But you know, beyond 350 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:47,280 Speaker 2: it's culinary and medicinal uses, honey bees are crucial for pollination, right, 351 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:51,960 Speaker 2: which is vital for agriculture and biodiversity. They act as 352 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:57,359 Speaker 2: primary pollinators, transferring palling between plants, allowing plants to reproduce 353 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:02,520 Speaker 2: and produce you know, fruits and seed. Bees pollinate one 354 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 2: third of all of the food that we eat, you know, 355 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:10,280 Speaker 2: from apples and strawberries to cucumbers and squash and even coffee. 356 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:15,240 Speaker 2: We can't have them without without bees, you know, without yeah. 357 00:20:15,119 --> 00:20:18,520 Speaker 1: Without them, without them, wild plants too would not be 358 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:22,159 Speaker 1: able to reproduce. And so you know, it's estimated that 359 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:28,240 Speaker 1: bee pollination contributes billions of dollars annually to the global economy. 360 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:32,480 Speaker 1: And because they're obviously responsible for the production of honey, 361 00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:37,800 Speaker 1: bee keeping provides livelihoods for all these farmers and all 362 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:41,600 Speaker 1: these local economies. And I don't think I don't think 363 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:44,600 Speaker 1: we put enough importance on them. No, we don't. 364 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 2: And a decline and bee populations poses a really serious 365 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:51,959 Speaker 2: threat to our global food security and biodiversity and the 366 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:55,600 Speaker 2: health of ecosystems. So we really need to protect our bees. 367 00:20:55,840 --> 00:20:59,640 Speaker 1: Don't kill any bees that you come across, no, Yeah, 368 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:01,320 Speaker 1: So what do we do to protect the bees? 369 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:03,920 Speaker 2: So there are different things that we could do. Right, 370 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:07,000 Speaker 2: we could plant be friendly plants, like by growing a 371 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:09,840 Speaker 2: variety of flowers that bloom at different times. Right to 372 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:12,480 Speaker 2: provide bees with nectar throughout the year. 373 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:14,480 Speaker 1: You know what I heard that I heard that you 374 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:18,960 Speaker 1: should always plant things in your garden and flowers that 375 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:23,159 Speaker 1: would attract bees and that way they have nectar or 376 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:26,600 Speaker 1: it's more easily found than them having to fly around forever. Also, 377 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:30,359 Speaker 1: reducing pesticide use in general. You know, when I go 378 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:32,840 Speaker 1: to the store and I buy organic. I'm not buying 379 00:21:32,840 --> 00:21:37,119 Speaker 1: it because the vegetable doesn't have pesticides and it's good 380 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:38,680 Speaker 1: for me. I do it because that means a farm 381 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:42,280 Speaker 1: worker wasn't sprayed, right, you know, and a farm worker 382 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 1: wasn't exposed to it. But I also do it for 383 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:48,320 Speaker 1: this reason because that means that fewer chemicals in the 384 00:21:48,359 --> 00:21:51,960 Speaker 1: gardening can help protect these bees from harmful toxins. I 385 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:53,399 Speaker 1: actually do it for that reason. 386 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:56,920 Speaker 2: Absolutely, absolutely, that's the best reason to do it. 387 00:21:57,000 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 1: Really. 388 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 2: Another thing is to support local beekeepers, right. 389 00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 1: I think purchasing local honey is a way to support 390 00:22:05,840 --> 00:22:10,880 Speaker 1: bees because it just supports like the healthy beekeeping practices. 391 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:13,399 Speaker 1: If you can buy from like specialty stores or farm 392 00:22:13,480 --> 00:22:17,520 Speaker 1: stands or farmers market and then get by the local honey. 393 00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:19,680 Speaker 1: Like I remember, I was in Albuquerque and I had 394 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:23,199 Speaker 1: allergies so bad, and you know, my friend's like, you 395 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:25,440 Speaker 1: gotta go, you know, get the honey. And sure enough, 396 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:28,200 Speaker 1: like that, like my allergies went away once I bought 397 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:28,959 Speaker 1: the local honey. 398 00:22:29,160 --> 00:22:31,800 Speaker 2: Wow, that's really interesting, you know. I want to mention 399 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:35,639 Speaker 2: here in Los Angeles, there's a man Victor Caramillo Soriano. 400 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:37,720 Speaker 2: He's one hundred years old and he said to be 401 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:41,159 Speaker 2: the oldest living beekeeper in Los Angeles. He's in and 402 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:46,480 Speaker 2: said he's from Sacatecas and he came to La during 403 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 2: the raceTo program, so he's been raising bees in his 404 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:54,359 Speaker 2: neighborhood since nineteen forty eight. He calls his the worker 405 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:57,760 Speaker 2: bees MESI has, and he has said that they're the 406 00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:00,199 Speaker 2: first to get up to work and the last call 407 00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 2: it a today. They're better engineers and builders than people, and 408 00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:04,119 Speaker 2: they work in the dark. 409 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:07,199 Speaker 1: So support people like him. I love him that he 410 00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:12,120 Speaker 1: calls them misi has my daughter has. I love it well. 411 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:16,240 Speaker 1: I hope you loved learning about honey, because I sure did. 412 00:23:16,280 --> 00:23:18,840 Speaker 1: And if you've got some interesting facts about your favorite foods, 413 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:20,480 Speaker 1: send us a message. We love hearing from you. 414 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:23,000 Speaker 2: Bye, everyone, Thank you so much for listening. See you 415 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 2: all next week. 416 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:30,600 Speaker 1: Hungry for History is a Hyphenite media production in partnership 417 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:33,040 Speaker 1: with Iheart's Michael Tura podcast network. 418 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:36,040 Speaker 2: For more of your favorite shows, visit the iHeartRadio app, 419 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:41,639 Speaker 2: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.