Pơkao Forest Honey – The Taste of Đưng K’nớ’s Ancient Mountains

From a natural treasure to a community brand

Đưng K’nớ is known as a “green treasure of the Central Highlands,” home to over 17,500 hectares of natural forest — 90% of its total area — and part of the UNESCO-recognized Lang Biang Biosphere Reserve. The rich ecosystem, cool climate, and abundant wild flora provide ideal conditions for native bee populations to thrive, producing honey with a naturally intense aroma and deep amber color.

For the Cil people, the honey-harvesting season — from April to June in the lunar calendar — is deeply rooted in cultural memory. Each expedition means days of trekking through forests, climbing ancient trees, following the instinctual signs of wild bees.
“It’s a dangerous job, but it has long been an important source of income for our families,” said Long Đinh Ha Ônh, Deputy Leader of the Pơkao Honey Cooperative.

As wild bee populations declined and traditional income became unstable, the Pơkao cooperative was founded in 2021, with a dual mission: preserve the craft — and modernize it for a sustainable future.

Honey harvesting — now ethical, traceable, and professionally managed

“Pơkao” means “forest flowers” in the Cil language — a tribute to the land’s natural heritage. Cooperative members were trained by the Mountain Bee Company in Hanoi on sustainable collection techniques:

• No harm to bee colonies
• No burning, smoke, or chemicals
• Ensuring bees can return to rebuild their nests the following season

The honey is then filtered through stainless steel membranes and moisture-reduced using modern technology — preserving its raw nutrition and authentic flavor.

Today, the cooperative has 37 members — most of them women. Since the launch of the Pơkao brand, the transformation has been significant: the price of wild honey has increased from just 350,000–400,000 VND per liter to around 900,000 VND per liter; instead of being sold quietly through middlemen, the product is now branded, marketed directly to consumers and trusted by the market; and for the first time, it carries full labeling, origin traceability and quality certification, meeting modern consumer standards.

Every year, the community harvests around 1,000 liters of wild honey, of which 300–500 liters are officially collected, processed, and distributed under the Pơkao brand.

A model of nature-based livelihood and women-led development

In 2023, Pơkao forest honey and honeycomb varieties earned OCOP 3-star certification and entered the final round of the National Green Startup Competition.

The project also aligns with National Program Project 8, which supports ethnic minority women’s economic empowerment — providing training in digital marketing, branding, and access to finance.

“Since joining Pơkao, the price of honey has doubled — life has become much easier for us women,” said Goan, a cooperative member.

Golden drops of Pơkao honey are more than just a natural delicacy — they represent the collective effort to protect the forest while building a sustainable community economy.
From deep within the Lang Biang mountains, Pơkao is rising — carrying the scent of the forest, the strength of the land, and the hope of the Cil people into the future.