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Animal & aquatic

Honey: what can it become?

Honey and beeswax can be harvested, strained, packed and sold with careful hygiene.

  1. Raw honey
  2. Processing
  3. Value-added products
  4. Packaging
  5. Markets
  6. Customers

Honey quality depends on harvesting only ripe, sealed honey and keeping everything clean. Methods that use heat, fire or boiling give dark, dirty honey. Honey also absorbs water from the air, and high water content can lead to fermentation, so airtight, food-grade containers matter. Beeswax is a second product that adds value if combs are processed cleanly.

What can honey become?

Crushed and strained honey

Honey drained from chopped comb through a cloth or mesh.

Processing
Use sealed comb only. Chop it into small pieces, place in clean mesh such as nylon, and let the honey drain into a covered bucket, for example overnight.
Equipment
  • Clean knife
  • Clean mesh or nylon cloth
  • Food-grade bucket with lid
  • Handwashing station
Packaging
Clean food-grade containers with tight lids; never reuse containers from other foods.
Storage
Sealed containers kept away from dust and strong smells.
Customer types
  • Households
  • Local shops
  • Market traders
  • Restaurants
Distribution
Direct sales, local shops and markets.
Possible business models
  • Own small honey unit
  • Beekeeper group collecting honey
  • Buy-pack-resell

Extracted honey from frames

Honey spun out of uncapped frames, keeping the comb for reuse.

Processing
Uncap sealed honey with a sharp knife and spin the frames in an extractor. The comb stays intact for reuse. Keep all equipment thoroughly clean.
Equipment
  • Uncapping knife
  • Honey extractor
  • Strainer or filter
  • Food-grade bucket or tank
Packaging
Clean food-grade containers with tight lids.
Storage
Sealed containers kept away from dust and strong smells.
Customer types
  • Households
  • Shops
  • Hotels and restaurants
  • Traders
Distribution
Direct sales, local shops and markets.
Possible business models
  • Own small extraction unit
  • Shared extraction centre for beekeepers
  • Contract extraction for beekeepers

Packaged honey

Honey filled into clean, labelled retail containers.

Processing
Pack honey into clean food-grade containers and seal them tightly. Avoid unsuitable metal or cheap plastic containers. Do not heat the honey to speed up filling.
Equipment
  • Food-grade bucket or tank
  • Clean jars or bottles
  • Lids or caps
  • Scale
  • Labels
Packaging
Clean food-grade containers with tight lids and clear labels; avoid unsuitable metal or cheap plastic.
Storage
Airtight containers, because honey absorbs moisture from the air; keep away from damp and strong smells.
Customer types
  • Households
  • Shops and supermarkets
  • Hotels and restaurants
  • Gift and craft markets
Distribution
Local shops, markets, direct sales and online.
Possible business models
  • Own small packing unit
  • Buy-pack-resell
  • Pack for beekeeper groups

Beeswax

Wax melted from clean combs.

Processing
Use fresh, light combs and wash crushed combs first. Melt gently by hot-water extraction, a solar extractor or steam distillation, then filter, usually a second time, to clean the wax.
Equipment
  • Washing buckets
  • Cloth or polypropylene sack
  • Large pot or solar wax extractor
  • Fine filter cloth
  • Moulds
Packaging
Clean, dry wrapping or containers; label clearly.
Storage
Cool, dry store, protected from dirt.
Customer types
  • Craft makers
  • Candle makers
  • Local traders
  • Beekeepers
Distribution
Direct sales, craft markets and local traders.
Possible business models
  • Own small wax unit
  • Buy-process-resell
  • Contract processing for beekeepers

The customers, routes to market, business models and many practical tips on this page are suggestions, not findings. Know something better? Suggest an improvement →

Business opportunities around honey

Sources and further reading

The handling, processing and storage information on this page draws on the sources below. The lists of customers, distribution routes and business models are practical suggestions, not findings from these sources. Links open in a new tab.

Examples describe possibilities, not guaranteed results. Prices, demand and rules vary by country and season — verify locally.