Mother and son beekeepers from Samsun

A mother and son team of beekeepers pack up their hives at the end of the summer bee raising season. They had laid their hives in a field less than 2 km from the ancient site of Ani. They spend the summer months near Ani and they winter months raising their bees on the Black Sea at Samsun. They were on the move again, heading back to Samsun for the winter and to sell their honey on the Black Sea. Near Ani, eastern Turkey.

Honey from bees near Ani

The honey from the Kars province, particularly near Ani, is thought to be some of the best honey in all of Turkey. Locals say the secret to the great tasting honey is that the bees are raised at varying altitudes and the beekeepers frequently move the hives so the bees can collect pollen from a variety of mountain flowers and plants. Near Ani, eastern Turkey.

Beekeeping Near Ani

Beekeepers raise their bees and harvest honey around the ruins of Ani. With the fertile plains and changing elevations this area is excellent for cultivating honey. The beekeepers are nomadic bringing everything with them, including their beekeeping suits and the hive boxes. Near Ani, eastern Turkey.