Ramban Sulai Honey:- Golden drop of Jammu’s pride

What is Ramban Sulai Honey?

Ramban sulai Honey is a rare & premium quality organic honey from the “Banihal” block of Ramban district of Jammu & Kashmir, India. It is a Unique honey which has specific color, taste & texture and is produced from migratory Apis Dorsata honeybee (Giant  Honeybee) from the the nector of sulai flower (wild tulsi flower) in the region of Ramban & Doda District of J&K.  Ramban Sulai honey is renewned for its Purity, Unique flavor & Medicinal value. Sulai honey is thick & light amber in color. 

Characteristics of Ramban Sulai Honey:-

Ramban sulai honey populary known as Sulai Honey or Vana Tulsi Honey in Jammu & Kashmir due to its monofloral nature from sulai flower (Sulai flower is a type of flower that blooms in the kashmir valley during the month of August to October). The follwoing characteristic makes this premium quality organic honey:-

• Ramban Sulai honey is a type of wild honey harvested from wild beehives using traditional & eco-friendly method.

• It is Raw honey which is Unprocessed, Unheated & Unfiltered resulting preserving natural enzymes, antioxidants & micronutrients.

• This honey can be crystallized naturally over a period of time due to its unprocessed form.

• Flavor & aroma:- It has typical sulai floral aroma. Its aroma is also pleasant.

• Color:- Due to snow-white color of sulai flower blossom, The color of Ramban sulai honey ranges from light golden to whitish.

• Texture:- It has smooth, creamy & medium viscosity. 

Bee keeping in Ramban District:-

Ramban district of Jammu & Kashmir is known for bee-keeping for the production of Honey. Ramban district & its adjoing area is famou for producing high quality of Honey including Ramban Sulai Honey. As per the J&K Govt data, Ramban district has approx 477 bee keepers having 32500 colonies of  Apis mellifera and 8500 colonies of Indian bee Apis cerana. The average honey production from Ramban district is approx 8000 quintal per annum. 

Geographical area of Production of Ramban Sulai Honey are:-

• Ramban District:– Latitude 33.30N & Longitude 75.20E
• Doda district:-Latitude 33.04N & Longitude 75.62E
• Kistwar district:-Latitude 33.51N & Longitude 75.89E
• Udhampur district:-Latitude 32.82N & Longitude 75.24E
• Reasi district:- Latitude 33.08N & Longitude 74.83E

Geographical Indication tag (GI Tag) & ODOP recoganization

Due to Purity, Uniqueness, Organic, Excellent taste etc, this Ramban Sulai Honey has been granted Geographical Indication Tag (G.I Tag) in August 2023 by Government of India. The GI Application was made by AI Fallah farmer producer company limited at kharkoot, Banihal district Ramban and facilitated by Dept of Horticulture Jammu & NABARD, J&K. This has lead to the “sweet revolution” in Jammu & Kashmir. 

• Global recognization :- In the year 2015, Our honorable Prime Minister, Sh Narendra Modi presented this Ramban Sulai Honey to Queen Elizabeth during his visit to Britain. It was also presented to the foreigh dignitaries during the world economic forum in Davos in the year 2022 showcasing its global presence.

ODOP recoganization of Ramban Sulai Honey

• Ramban Sulai Honey has been designated under One District One Project (ODOP) initiative for the Ramban district of Jammu & Kashmir.  The ODOP initiative help to boost the local economy of Jammu & Kashmir. 

Brief History of production of Ramban Suali Honey

Historically there are references available that bee keeping in Ramban & its joining district of Jammu & Kashmir date back to 1470 AD due to ideal flora & fauna as well as mountanious regions. The abundant flora of Sulai & acacia flower provide a natural source for honey production. The Ramban district hold maximum bee keeping in this region and has been a part of rural livelihood for decades. The natural flora of Chenab valley makes it an ideal place for cultivation of sulai hoeny in this region.  

List of popular Ramban Sulai honey brands in India

• The indian bee keeper :- The Indian bee keeper sells wild ramban sulai honey in the market . The price is approx Rs 325 /- per 100gms of Honey. It is also available on the Amazon & other online portal.

• Crimson sulai honey:– It is a pure honey harvested directly from the nector or sulai flower from the Ramban region of J&K. Its price is approx Rs 250 per 100gms of Honey.

• Rambans Acacia Honey:- It is also a popular brand of raw sulai honey from Ramban region of J&K. Its price ranges from Rs 200/- per 100gms.

Content Reference:-

The above content has been compiled after referring various culinary books, Research Papers, Research articles, Food magazines, news papers, top culinary websites, Govt websites, personal interaction with people of Ramban & adjoing district of Jammu & Kashmir as well as the farmers of sulai honey from ramban etc. The picture which i have used has been generated from the AI Sourse. Some of the important website referred for the above content are:- 

• https://www.nabard.org/gi/GIProductDetails.aspx?Id=60
• https://search.ipindia.gov.in/GIRPublic/Application/Details/772
• https://ipindia.gov.in/registered-gls.htm
• https://ramban.gov.in/one-district-one-product-odop/
• https://www.mystore.in/en/product/ramban-sulai-honey?srsltid=AfmBOoq79GrU9eEcL5MmQmndLkbWDvo70sjo-GKKv279eOvE9F419hN3
• https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jammu/ramban-sulai-honey-bhaderwah-rajmash-get-gi-tag/articleshow/103191875.cms
• https://www.greaterkashmir.com/uncategorized/gi-tag-for-sulai-honey-will-benefit-farmers-economically/
• https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/bhaderwah-rajma-ramban-sulai-honey-bag-gi-tag/
• https://www.facebook.com/natgeotv.india/posts/heritage-in-every-dropharvested-with-care-ramban-honey-captures-the-essence-of-t/1234142491613234/
• https://kashmirahead.com/jks-sulai-honey-receives-gi-tag-in-ramban-boosting-bee-farmer-incomes-and-global-recognition/
• https://theindianbeekeepers.com/products/product_64daac89-806a-8148-9062-21800871eb62
• https://www.oliveboard.in/blog/jks-bhaderwah-rajma-and-ramban-sulai-honey-get-gi-tag/
• https://diragrijmu.nic.in/District%20at%20a%20Glance.pdf
• https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/jks-bhaderwah-rajmash-sulai-honey-get-gi-tags/printarticle/103202594.cms?from=mdr
• https://www.deccanherald.com/india/jammu-and-kashmir/jks-bhaderwah-rajmash-sulai-honey-get-geographical-indication-tags-2666069
• https://statetimes.in/bhadarwah-rajma-ramban-sulai-honey-bag-gi-tag/
• https://kashmirreader.com/2022/12/11/sulai-honey-among-8-traditional-items-from-jammu-vying-for-gi-tag/
• https://curlytales.com/web-stories/from-gucci-mushroom-to-ramban-honey-5-gi-tagged-items-from-jammu-kashmir/
• https://sarkaripariksha.com/current-affairs/bhaderwah-rajma-and-ramban-sulai-honey-get-gi-tag-in-jammu-and-kashmir/
• https://archive.thenewsnow.co.in/newsdet.aspx?q=153699
• https://thechenabtimes.com/tag/ramban-sulai-honey/
• https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/bhaderwah-rajmash-and-sulai-honey-of-jammu-and-kashmir-granted-gi-tags-boosting-promotions-at-international-level-101
• https://kashmirobserver.net/2023/08/30/gi-tags-for-jks-rajmash-sulai-honey/
• https://honeyandspice.in/products/sulai-vana-tulsi-honey?srsltid=AfmBOopvQs_vQD6KTu0ZFGEaZ2mswVBV4gIdzoHLINs0jrwTd8LHbgu7