The nectar of the flowers of the Sidr/Beri tree also known as Jujube - Sidr tree (Arab), Bari/Ber tree (Pakistan), Hunnap Tree (Turkish), Henup Tree (Bulgaria) ZufZuuf Tree (Morocco), Annub tree (Lebanon/Iran) is where this floral honey is derived from. The Sidr tree has been used as a natural medicine for centuries and is considered sacred in some world religions.
The fruits of the Sidr tree have a very high energy value. Its nutrition value is considered equal to dates, figs, raisins, and few other dried fruits, etc. The seeds are rich in protein, and the leaves in Calcium, Iron, and Magnesium.
Sidr honey is sought after because of its exquisite taste, its health benefits as natural medicine, and even as an aphrodisiac. It is becoming a popular natural, alternative medicine. The use of honey as medicine is well documented in medicine. Sidr honey is a known antibiotic and antibacterial agent and there are many benefits that can be had from including it in your diet. Following are a few to mention:
Benefits of Pakistani Sidr Honey
1. ORGANIC - the Sidr trees are grown wild and uncultivated in the hot places of Pakistan, like Sargodha and D.I Khan.
2. RAW & PURE - in Pakistan, the method of beekeeping has always been a traditional one. No chemicals or drugs allowed (in modern agriculture, chemicals and antibiotics are widely used to control mites and other bee diseases in the hives). No machinery used. All are done using their hands, a little smoke (from dried camel skins), and knives. The honey is then poured, unheated and raw, into containers, thus preserving its vital live enzymatic constituents.
3. NATURAL APHRODISIAC - mixed with carrot seeds or on its own, it has aphrodisiac qualities. A blend of honey with a certain combination of nuts, ginseng, and herbs is claimed to be best, with no side effects.
4. MEDICINAL - Every drop of honey holds the spark of life. Our forefathers had understood honey's remarkable healing gift and had used it successfully in curing most diseases. Sidr honey has been reported to be good for liver problems, stomach ulcers, respiratory infections, diseases resulting from malnutrition, digestive problems, constipation, eye diseases, infected wounds and burns, surgical wounds (incl. caesarian), promote speedy recovery after childbirth, facilitates menstruation, (with various plants) it can be used against epilepsy, strengthened the immune systems, to promote general health and vitality.
5. ANTIOXIDANT - Some honey is found to have as much as 75-150 mg ascorbic acid per 100g while others, less than 5mg per 100mg. Antioxidants are important in counteracting the damage caused to the body by free radicals which play a role in the aging process and in triggering diseases such as arterial disease and cancer. Research has found that darker honey has higher antioxidant properties.
6. ANTIBACTERIAL - Medical science is rediscovering the effectiveness of honey in the use of alternative therapies in areas where the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (the "superbugs") spreads. Honey may differ in the potency of its antibacterial activity thus affecting its healing abilities. Some honey is no more antibacterial than sugar, while others can be diluted more than 100-fold and still halt the growth of bacteria.
7. HIGHLY POTENT - Beekeepers who are strict in ensuring the purity and potency of the honey will allow their bees to die rather than feed the bees with sugary syrup. Typically, bees of a certain hive makeover 35,000 trips just to make half a kilo of honey, but some bees fed solely on the nectar of the Sidr flower die after making a few trips. The weaker bees cannot withstand the potency of the nectar of this remarkable tree.