Honey can do some amazing things. Not only does it have natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties it’s also one of the few known foods that never goes bad (case in point: archaeologists found perfectly preserved edible jars of the stuff in Egyptian tombs). And of course it’s a life-changing addition to so many dishes like honey-soy-marinated baked chicken thighs and honey-mustard-glazed ham. So you might be surprised to know that there actually is a type of honey that can make you hallucinate throw up—and in some cases even die.
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The Nepalese Honey That Makes People Hallucinate
This is crazy honey or bitter honey as it’s sometimes called. Found primarily in Nepal and Turkey this red-hued variety is laced with grayanotoxin (a toxin found in some plants that can be fatal to humans in high doses). In this case it comes from certain species of rhododendron an inconspicuous flowering shrub that bees collect nectar from to produce honey. According to Science Direct potential side effects of consuming grayanotoxin include salivation vomiting hypotension bradycardia arrhythmias hypotension chest pain dizziness circumoral and extremity paresthesias coordination problems and muscle weakness. And while consuming this honey is rarely fatal it’s still a toxic substance—and as such it’s banned in certain parts of the world.
Mad Honey’s intoxicating side effects have led people to experiment with it recreationally similar to magic mushrooms (it only takes a few teaspoons to send people into a tranquil mind-altering state). Others believe this dangerous honey has profound health benefits—in Turkey for example it’s not uncommon for men to use it as a remedy for impotence. Throughout history Mad Honey has also been prescribed as an alternative medicine for everything from hypertension and diabetes to arthritis and indigestion.
Regardless of its intended use mad honey is illegally produced in a number of countries including Canada Mexico Brazil Australia India and South Korea. As such it is worth a lot of money on the black market (as much as $80 a pound in some places).
