Bees produce honey from more than 700 species of Rhododendrons around the world. Most honey from rhododendrons is slightly spicy and bitter, like this ItalianHoney from rhododendrons in the Italian Alps.

Two species of rhododendrons in the Himalayan mountains of Nepal and Turkey’s Black Sea, contain Grayanotoxin, a natural neurotoxin. Mad Honey is made from grayanotoxin carrying rhododendrons. Less than a spoon of Mad Honey causes light-headedness and people reported that two spoons of Mad Honey can cause hallucinations.

This ZME Science article by Mihai Andrei summarizes the history of Mad Honey. The article gives examples of how Mad Honey from Turkey was used in war time in Europe and Persia to incapacitate armies who were foolish enough to sample a few spoons of the honey sent by their enemies.

Turkish people believe that Mad Honey has medicinal properties and can help with sleep, reduce anxiety and relieve pain. In Turkey, they boil small amounts of Mad Honey in milk, instead of eating it with bread. People in Nepal believe this honey also has medicinal properties and this Nepalese company sells a medicinal brand of Mad Honey.