Millions of bees produce honey
Around 17,500 apiculturists in Switzerland maintain approximately 165,000 bee colonies for the production of honey. A basic distinction is drawn between blossom honey and forest honey. Whereas blossom honey originates from flower nectar, forest honey is composed of sugary plant sap. This so-called honeydew is excreted by sap-sucking insects and is then harvested by bees.
Multifloral honey varieties stemming from a number of different plants are typical in Switzerland. Honey that predominantly originates from a single source is called monofloral honey, such as linden honey or chestnut honey, for example.
The quantity of honey that a bee colony produces per annum depends on the weather and thus varies greatly from year to year. The annual honey yield per colony amounts to around 20 kilograms on average.
