What Is Sidr Honey? The Tree, the Bees and the Seasons Behind It
· UpdatedSidr honey is the honey Yemen is famous for, and one of the most valued honeys in the world. It comes from one tree, is made by one native bee, and is harvested in one short autumn window. Here is what it is.
What is Sidr honey?
Sidr honey is a monofloral honey made from the nectar of the Sidr tree (Ziziphus spina-christi). The finest comes from the isolated valleys of Hadramout in Yemen, where bees feed on Sidr blossom alone during the October peak. It is thick, amber-gold and deeply floral, with notes of caramel and toffee and a long, layered finish.
The Sidr tree
The Sidr tree is known in Hadramout as Al-Elb (العِلْب), and elsewhere as the lote tree, Christ's thorn or jujube. It is deep-rooted and drought-resistant, living on as little as 50 to 300 mm of rain a year, and can grow from a shrub under 3 metres to a tree of 12 metres or more. It is mentioned in the Quran in Surat Al-Waqi'ah (56:28), Saba' (34:16) and An-Najm (53:14–16), which is part of why Sidr honey holds such meaning across the Arab and Muslim world.
Its flowers are small yellow clusters, rich in nectar but light on pollen. In Hadramout the trees flower from about 15 September to 15 November.
The bees: Apis mellifera jemenitica
Yemeni Sidr is made by Yemen's own honeybee, Apis mellifera jemenitica. Documented by Prof. Muhammad Saeed Khanbash of Hadramout University, it is smaller than European bees, tolerant of heat, and naturally resistant to Varroa mites, so our beekeeper uses no chemical treatments.
Two seasons: Baghyah and Marbai
- Baghyah (عسل البغية), the peak harvest. A 40-day autumn window in October when the Sidr trees are at their prime and nothing else is flowering. Bees feed on Sidr alone, so the honey is as monofloral as Sidr gets. This is the honey we buy.
- Marbai (العسل المربعي), the spring harvest. If spring rains bring a second bloom, a lighter secondary Sidr is made. It is less concentrated than Baghyah. We only source it if the main season sells out, and we say so.
Where the best Sidr comes from
Wadi Doan is a deep, isolated valley in Hadramout, walled by cliffs. At the Sidr peak there are no farms and no competing flowers, so the bees have nothing but Sidr to feed on. Sidr trees also grow in Pakistan, India and Kashmir, where they stand among farms and other crops. The honey from those regions is usually multifloral with some Sidr in it, which is not the same thing. Genuine monofloral Sidr needs at least 45% Sidr pollen.
Premium vs Royal Sidr
We grade Sidr on three tests: the beekeeper's judgement, tasting, and the laboratory.
- Premium Yemeni Sidr Honey is always from Wadi Doan. Its 2026 batch tested TA 26.8 and won 1-Star Great Taste in 2025 and 2026.
- Royal Yemeni Sidr Honey is the season's peak selection, the highest Sidr content we find. Its 2026 batch, also from Wadi Doan, tested TA 33.4 and won 2-Star Great Taste 2026. The judges wrote: "The flavour brings such delight."
What Sidr honey looks and tastes like
- Colour: warm amber-gold, darkening slowly with age.
- Texture: thick and smooth.
- Flavour: deep floral sweetness, butterscotch, caramel, toffee, with a subtle warmth and a lingering finish.
- Aroma: strong, warm and floral, with woody notes. The strength of the aroma is one of the ways Sidr is graded.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sidr honey the same as jujube honey?
The Sidr tree is a kind of jujube, so some sellers use the name. But "jujube honey" from elsewhere is often from other Ziziphus species or blended.
Why does Sidr honey crystallise?
Slowly, over months, because it is rich in fructose. It starts at the bottom of the jar. That is a sign of raw honey, and warm water below 40°C reverses it.
Where can I buy Yemeni Sidr honey in Australia?
We sell Premium and Royal Yemeni Sidr, both from Wadi Doan, packed in Victoria. Also read how Sidr honey is made.
More about the valley this honey comes from: Wadi Doan, Hadramout.
