Are you celebrating World Bee Day today? This day which puts the spotlight on the workaholic bees has European origins and worldwide significance, since its importance to the health of our planet cannot be overstated. According to UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, “Pollinators such as bees, birds and bats, affect 35 percent of the world’s crop production, increasing outputs of 87 of the leading food crops worldwide, plus many plant-derived medicines. Three out of four crops across the globe producing fruits or seeds for human use as food depend, at least in part, on pollinators (…) Together with wild pollinators, bees play a major role in maintaining biodiversity, ensuring the survival and reproduction of many plants, supporting forest regeneration, promoting sustainability and adaptation to climate change, improving the quantity and quality of agricultural productions.”
The history of World Bee Day is rather recent, and the date itself is rich in symbolism. According to Slovenia’s government website, “Slovenia proposed that the United Nations (UN) proclaim 20 May as World Bee Day. On 20 December 2017, following three years of international efforts, the UN Member States unanimously approved Slovenia’s proposal and 20 May was proclaimed World Bee Day.” May 20th was Anton Janša’s birthday. He was a beekeeping pioneer, “the first beekeeping teacher at the Viennese imperial court, who in the 18th century completely revised the hitherto beekeeping methods based on his findings and laid the foundations of modern beekeeping.” This year, the UN will mark World Bee Day with a virtual event, under the theme “Bee Engaged: Celebrating the diversity of bees and beekeeping systems.”
I like to keep it simple on World Bee day – after all, the bees’ gift to us is simply delicious and pure, and its unadulterated beauty should be preserved and celebrated. An example of “keeping it simple” is a plate of organic banana chips, the first cherries of the season, and a dash (or more!) of raw buckwheat honey. I buy this honey by the half gallon, and I can’t recommend it enough – not only does it taste great, but researchers have discovered that buckwheat honey is an amazing booster of natural immunity. I use it on toast and pancakes, in teas, and with granola.
Another example of a simple snack are the puffed rice & honey treats below, which I prepared for an Instagram challenge on the topic of street food. As soon as this theme was announced, my mind went back in time to the springs and summers of my childhood, which I spent devouring this sweet sold at the street corners and at county fairs. Back in the day, the portions were humongous – I trimmed them down considerably, for Instagram purposes 😂
I watched several videos on how to make puffed rice at home, but ultimately due to time constrains I had to buy the rice from the local international food shop. I got a huge bag, which I’ll take great pleasure in using up in the future, beyond Bee Day.
There is nothing intriguing, difficult, or laborious about these treats: puffed rice in combination with local honey equals pure delight 🙂
What is your favorite recipe with honey? Are you making it today, on World Bee Day? Let me know in the comments 🙂
*NOTE: Honey should not be given to children younger than 1 year old.
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