learn honey makingin Ivanovka village
Ivanovka was founded in 1847 by Russian Molokans, a group of Spiritual Christians branded as heretics and banished to the Caucasus from central Russia. The Molokan heritage is a great reason to visit, but so too is the village’s excellent reputation for high-quality local produce, including cheeses, breads, wine – and some of the best honey in the Caucasus.
Enriched by an abundance of acacias and various other honey plants, Ivanovka’s pure and natural honey is simply superb. Beekeeping has been practised passionately here since the day the village was founded and today many locals are true masters of this culinary craft. One of them is Andrey Antifeyev, whose family has been squeezing out scrumptious honey from the rich Ismayilli nature for three generations. And besides wonderfully smooth golden honey, he also produces medicinal products from propolis, as well as beeswax candles, soaps from sunflower oil and other small souvenirs.
In addition, Andrey hosts honey making workshops between July and March in which he explains the intricacies of the craft. He can also take visitors on a tour of Ivanovka’s picturesque fields to see how the bees are housed in colourful pavilions as well as host you for tea and tastings at his house.
