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Honey was a sweet, viscous food substance produced by honey bees, and by their larger cousin the giant honey bee.[6]

Description[]

This food product had a very long shelf life.[7]

Availability[]

Honeycomb

A piece of raw honeycomb.

Honey was typically sold by alchemists, beekeepers, farms, and food markets.[1]

Places in the Realms where honey bees were known to be cultivated for their honey included:

Beyond Faerûn[]

Beyond Toril[]

Usage[]

Food[]

  • Honey was the primary form of sweetener in the Realms.[7] Whenever it was applied to something, the food or beverage was referred to as being "honeyed."[19]
  • It was a main sweetener component of many alcoholic beverages including clarry, evermead, feywine, mead, and tej.
  • It was one of the main ingredients to honeydrops.[20]
  • Some were known to use honey to sweeten molasses.[21]
  • Grilled rothé ribs were often smothered in herbs and honey and slowly cooked to perfection.[22]

Magic[]

Miscellaneous[]

  • In the Dalelands, elven farmers south of Spiderhaunt Wood were known to offer pots of honey to the Seldarine before planting their crops for the spring, hoping that they would control the land's chaotic weather.[8]
  • Some were known to give camels[31] and a camel of the Pearl a dab of honey to persuade them away from wandering.[32]
  • When mixed with a ground up amber, honey could remove some degree of blindness. When mixed with that and rose oil, honey could remove some degree of deafness.[33]

Notable Users of Honey[]

Honey Comb bg3

A wild honeycomb filled with honey from the Western Heartlands.

Businesses[]

Groups[]

  • The Shad'iar, the nomadic tribes of the Land of the Lions, often applied honey to their simple foods. Whenever a clan, family, or tribe of Shad'iar hosted members of another tribe they would serve sweets made from congealed honey.[35]

Individuals[]

Races & Intelligent Creatures[]

  • Among fey, honey was especially loved by atomies and grigs, who would trick bees into giving it to them.[40] Some grigs were also known to gift fresh honey from the Feywild to those who got offended by their pranks.[40][41]
  • Badgers were often attracted to honey.[8]
  • The Batiri of Chult were known to tie their enemies to trees, douse them in honey, and then leave them to be eaten away by jungle insects.[42]
  • Bears,[8] owlbears,[43] and werebears were also known to be fond of honey. The latter were especially enamored with mead containing heavy amounts of the substance.[44]
  • Biclopses were known to forage for honey at twilight hours.[45]
  • Dohwar could be driven to a state of intoxication with just small amounts of honey.
  • Feng huang were fond of honey-flavored water.[46]
  • The small insects known as flies were often attracted to honey,[47] so much so that there existed the proverb, "you catch more flies with honey."[48]
  • Honey was a typical part of the diet of faerie dragons.[49][50][51]
  • In the land of Chult, monkey spiders were very fond of honey.[52]

Regions & Settlements[]

  • In the land of Anauroch, the Bedine tribesmen would use honey to sweeten the milk of camels and baste gazelle meat.[53]
  • In the city of Arrabar, whipped honey served atop sweet wafers, along with tea, was a popular meal among the nobililty.[54]
  • In the land of Calimshan, honeyed bread was a common feature in meals.[55]
  • In the Western Heartlands, honey was considered a "base staple" ingredient. A vial of the substance could often be found carried by travelers in their spice pouches.[56]
  • In the land of Zakhara, honey was a very popular product among tribesmen and in the markets of Tajar.[57]

Rumors & Legends[]

  • One legend in the Feywild claimed that pixies stole the secret of making honey from a goblet of mead belonging to the Summer Queen and then sold it to honeybees.[58]
  • The fabled Zakharan city of Iram was said to have rivers of milk and honey.[59]

Appendix[]

Appearances[]

Adventures
Under Illefarn
Referenced only
Nightmare Keep
Novels
DragonwallThe Parched SeaStar of CursrahCurse of the ShadowmageThe Simbul's GiftThe FloodgateUncleanUndeadThe Rose of SarifalBlackstaff TowerTimeless;The Fallbacks: Bound for Ruin
Referenced only
Azure BondsMasqueradesMaster of ChainsKey of Stars
Video Games
Gateway to the Savage FrontierBaldur's Gate III
Licensed Adventures & Organized Play
Once BrokenWeb of Destruction
Referenced only
The Death of Szass Tam

External Links[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Michael Dobson (January 1984). “Living in a material world”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #81 (TSR, Inc.), p. 62.
  2. Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 117. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
  3. David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 90. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
  4. Eric Cagle, Jesse Decker, Jeff Quick, and James Wyatt (March 2003). Arms and Equipment Guide 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 31. ISBN 978-0-7869-2649-7.
  5. Larian Studios (October 2020). Designed by Swen Vincke, et al. Baldur's Gate III. Larian Studios.
  6. Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 17. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Ed Greenwood (02-13-2021). Beekeeping and Wax in the Realms (Tweet). theedverse. Twitter. Archived from the original on 6-29-2021. Retrieved on 6-29-2021.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “The Settled Lands”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 9. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
  9. Ed Greenwood (October 1998). The City of Ravens Bluff. Edited by John D. Rateliff. (TSR, Inc.), p. 144. ISBN 0-7869-1195-6.
  10. Anthony Herring, Jeff Grubb (1993). Player's Guide to the Forgotten Realms Campaign. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 41–42. ISBN 1-56076-695-6.
  11. Belinda G. Ashley (October 1995). “Roaming the Realms: The Green Elves of Faerûn”. In Pierce Watters ed. Dragon #222 (TSR, Inc.), p. 43.
  12. James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “The Settled Lands”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 13. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
  13. Ed Greenwood (1994). Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast. (TSR, Inc), p. 102. ISBN 1-5607-6940-1.
  14. James Lowder, Jean Rabe (1993). The Jungles of Chult. (TSR, Inc), p. 13. ISBN 1-5607-6605-0.
  15. David Cook (October 1992). “Home Port: Wherein the Tale Begins”. In Bill Slavicsek ed. Golden Voyages (TSR, Inc.), p. 32. ISBN 978-1560763314.
  16. Wolfgang Baur and Lester Smith (1994-07-01). “The Book of Chaos”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Chaos (TSR, Inc), p. 43. ISBN 1560768746.
  17. Wolfgang Baur, Rick Swan (June 1995). In the Cage: A Guide to Sigil. Edited by Karen S. Boomgarden. (TSR, Inc.), p. 128. ISBN 978-0786901111.
  18. Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). Manual of the Planes 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 138. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
  19. Gary Gygax (1979). Dungeon Masters Guide 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 221. ISBN 0-9356-9602-4.
  20. Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 83. ISBN 0786960345.
  21. Doug Stewart (November 1997). Castle Spulzeer. (TSR, Inc), p. 18. ISBN 978-0786906697.
  22. Larian Studios (October 2020). Designed by Swen Vincke, et al. Baldur's Gate III. Larian Studios.
  23. Andy Collins, Jesse Decker, David Noonan, Rich Redman (February 2004). Unearthed Arcana. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 148. ISBN 0-7680-3131-0.
  24. David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), pp. 155, 239. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
  25. Gary Gygax, David Cook, and François Marcela-Froideval (1985). Oriental Adventures. (TSR, Inc), pp. 65, 82. ISBN 0-8803-8099-3.
  26. Len Carpenter (February 1988). “Arcane Lore: Magic from East to West”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #130 (TSR, Inc.), p. 17.
  27. Jim Butler (1996). The Vilhon Reach (Dungeon Master's Guide). (TSR, Inc), p. 31. ISBN 0-7869-0400-3.
  28. Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 251. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
  29. David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 290. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
  30. David "Zeb" Cook (December 1993). Book of Artifacts. (TSR, Inc), p. 122. ISBN 978-1560766728.
  31. Rick Swan (1994). Al-Qadim: Caravans: Campaign Guide. (TSR, Inc), p. 25. ISBN 1-56076-903-3.
  32. Wolfgang Baur, Steve Kurtz (1992). Monstrous Compendium Al-Qadim Appendix. (TSR, Inc). ISBN l-56076-370-1.
  33. Michael Lowrey (March 1984). “The many facets of gems”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #83 (TSR, Inc.), p. 12.
  34. Ed Greenwood (July 2000). Volo's Guide to Baldur's Gate II. Edited by Duane Maxwell, David Noonan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 105. ISBN 0-7869-1626-5.
  35. Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan (September 1998). Empires of the Shining Sea. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 128–129. ISBN 0-7869-1237-5.
  36. John Nephew and Jonathan Tweet (April 1992). City of Gold. (TSR, Inc), p. 25. ISBN 978-1560763222.
  37. Erlene Mooney (July 1992). “Bahamut and Tiamat”. In Jean Rabe ed. Polyhedron #73 (TSR, Inc.), p. 19.
  38. Christopher Perkins, James Haeck, James Introcaso, Adam Lee, Matthew Sernett (September 2018). Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 112. ISBN 978-0-7869-6625-7.
  39. Ossian Studios (June 2018). Neverwinter Nights: Darkness over Daggerford. Beamdog.
  40. 40.0 40.1 Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 330. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
  41. Steve Townshend (February 2013). “The Dragon's Bestiary: Fey of Wood and Wind”. In Steve Winter ed. Dragon #420 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 7.
  42. Christopher Perkins, Will Doyle, Steve Winter (September 19, 2017). Tomb of Annihilation. Edited by Michele Carter, Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 13. ISBN 978-0-7869-6610-3.
  43. Jon Winter (February 1995). “The Ecology of the Owlbear”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #214 (TSR, Inc.), p. 90.
  44. Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 233. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
  45. Jones, Valhouli, Gerard (August 1991). “The Dragon's Bestiary: Attention: Underground adversaries seeking heroes to bash”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #172 (TSR, Inc.), p. 17.
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  47. Eric L. Boyd (June 2005). City of Splendors: Waterdeep. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 72. ISBN 0-7869-3693-2.
  48. Wolfgang Baur, Steve Winter (August 2014). Hoard of the Dragon Queen. Edited by Miranda Horner. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 67. ISBN 978-0786965649.
  49. Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 57. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
  50. Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 89. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
  51. Brian Jaeger (June 1982). “Faerie Dragon”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #62 (TSR, Inc.), p. 7.
  52. James Lowder, Jean Rabe (1993). The Jungles of Chult. (TSR, Inc), p. 33. ISBN 1-5607-6605-0.
  53. Ed Greenwood (November 1991). Anauroch. Edited by Karen S. Boomgarden. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 16, 19. ISBN 1-56076-126-1.
  54. Thomas M. Reid (November 2003). The Sapphire Crescent. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 4, p. 105. ISBN 0-7869-3027-6.
  55. Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan (September 1998). Empires of the Shining Sea. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 61. ISBN 0-7869-1237-5.
  56. Ed Greenwood (2020-07-13). Spices When Traveling (Tweet). theedverse. Twitter. Archived from the original on 2021-06-18. Retrieved on 2021-06-18.
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  59. Steve Kurtz (January 1994). “The City of Lofty Pillars”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #201 (TSR, Inc.), p. 11.
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