The Nepalese Honey That Makes People Hallucinate

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Published 2016-09-14
Nepal’s Gurung people live mostly in small villages in the vast Annapurna mountain ranges. In this remote region, they practice an ancient tradition of honey hunting where they descend towering cliffs on handmade ladders, to harvest honey nestled under jagged overhangs.

In spring, the Gurung’s honey contains a rare substance called grayanotoxin from rhododendron flowers that’s known for its intoxicating effects. While some accounts say it’s a deadly poison, others refer to it as an aphrodisiac, powerful medicine, and a hallucinogenic drug.

VICE travelled deep into the Annapurna mountains to join a Gurung village on their spring hunt and understand Mad Honey's effects.

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All Comments (21)
  • the happiness on the face of the guy while he told him he'll come again felt real.
  • @SoloKyoto
    When that man asked if you would come back again and then got very happy when you said yes just shows the level of love and respect these people have for even complete strangers.
  • @Sandesh98147
    The psychedelic honey and the stoner village isnt even the highlight of this video. Its the hospitality of the Nepalese. The beauty of the culture. The simplicity of it all. "maybe we dont need to hunt for honey as a necessity, but we want to continue what our ancestors did". Such a simple, slow paced lives these guys lead in the small towns. The lives some people lead in same subcontinent as mine could be so different, thats what I took from this video.
  • @Martin-lc1sk
    The bees give him honey, but he seemed genuinely sad he couldnt give anything back. What a kind man
  • @muk420425
    being a reporter for vice looks like a dream job
  • @MiladyMarie
    After watching this entire video, it's humbling to see how this nepalese culture isn't there to abuse this honey. They respect the nature of it and use it for it's medicinal purpose. Such a great video 😊👌
  • I'm about to move to Nepal now. Not for the honey but for the absolutely incredibly accepting community. I wish I lived somewhere people are so caring and welcoming.
  • @heymanimyourkid
    I'm so happy people are still watching this video. I think it's the best thing I've ever done!
  • @LauraLegends
    When he said he would come back, and the smile it brought to the other guys face..... melted my heart into honey ❤️
  • Honey good, honey good. 🤤 LOL. These tribes I hope are never erased by modern society. You can see the beauty and their love for nature and all things living. It’s important to preserve groups like this and their traditions as well as the knowledge they attained, sometimes over a thousand years. Much love to the Gurung people.
  • @swat1710
    As a Sikkimese Nepali M proud of our culture and language... Thank You vice🙏🏻🙏🏻
  • @austin1791
    Ming is my fucking idol. He's like 80, walks around with an obey hat and just loves life lmao.
  • @tinygreenguy968
    America: I drive in the right side UK: I drive on the left side Nepal: ROAD IS ROAD
  • @vikipoyta
    The cinematography in this is something else, the cliff shots are sick, the honey dripping, very nice
  • @zenthomas9180
    The native people seem so chilled & friendly.. It has to be a fantastic experience just sitting on the side of a beautiful mountain looking at the amazing landscape and eating some of that honey followed by a spliff of one of the strongest & best types of hashish in the world........
  • @martinzkong
    Nepalese people are very kind. Salute to the hospitality 👍
  • @tanyagales5614
    That guy from Nepal had one of the most beautiful smile I've ever seen.
  • @apekxhype
    Was watching the video to quench the curiosity of this honey and got to see the sweetness sweeter than the honey itself in the hospitable and welcoming nature of us Nepalese. Greatly summed up Nepalese and our perseverance and respect for the culture and traditions passed down from generations. How they would put their lives in danger to give continuity to it and not abuse the resource is mad respectful. And the happiness they get by sharing their tradition with a stranger is just so heart warming! Proud to be a Nepalese 🇳🇵
  • @deepam5246
    This video is right up there with Hamilton’s trek into the Amazon for that frog venom thing. Very different vibes and totally engrossing. Amazing work! What a beautiful people!!