Baymel Honey Products

I first met Gilary Garcia and Shamar Ramirez during a tour with Human Connections, in June 2019. The tour group visited the couple’s home/workshop in Valle de Banderas where we were treated to a fascinating presentation describing their beekeeping and honey making business.

They met in 2015. In 2018, Gilary graduated university with a degree in accounting and “had a vision.” Some time ago, someone gave her father a hive of bees, and Gilary says, “That was the gift that started all this!” In a short period of time, Gilary and Shamar have worked hard to create their new business and viewing space, “Baymel.” Baymel’s name comes from mixing Bahia de Banderas (Bay of Banderas) and miel (honey).

Gilary and Shamar maintain anywhere between 250 and 350 beehives, the number varying due to factors such as reproduction season or the weather. Each beehive houses 60 000 bees. Staggering. They use four kinds of bees to make their products; the European bee, the English bee, the African bee, and a very tiny bee called the Corbodes, which produces a specific type of honey. Shamar says, “The African bee is the most hard working bee of all. They are very hard working. If all bees were like them, apiaries and the production of honey would be completely different.”

It’s not the bee, it’s the flower.

Bees fly only two to three kilometers from their hive, and Gilary says, “Every bee from each hive only takes what they need from the flowers.” And, different pollen produces different honey. Pollen from mango blossoms, for example, produces a honey that differs in colour from that of a separate type of flower. The couple uses the different types of honey to produce more than twenty products derived from natural honey. You may already be aware, most store bought honey has been modified, likely with corn syrup. The couple’s products range from pure honey and royal jelly, to candy, like gummies and lollipops, all the way to pharmaceutical items. Aside from honey, their health care products include properties to sooth skin issues, eye problems, stomach aches, or sore throat. Their lotions and soaps contain ingredients like activated charcoal exfoliates, shea butter and oatmeal, and they even produce antibacterial gel and lip balm.

We were delighted to attend the Grand Opening of Baymel in March – a wonderful evening!

A scenic drive East on Estaciones, passing ranches and orchards, Valle de Banderas is the municipal seat and a lovely little town. Stroll the square, enjoy lunch, and be sure to stop at Baymel for your health and sweet pleasures.

Located at Galeana 502 B, Valle de Banderas, Nay. Phone 322 117 9561, or find them on Facebook. For a list of products, see here: http://mya-productos-de-la-colmena.negocio.site

Also, see more information about Gilary and Shamar and the many other Human Connections partners here: http://humanconnections.org

**All photos courtesy of Horace Smith**