Lush landscapes and high-quality honey: Taking in the sights and flavours of Azerbaijan
In this episode of Explore, we go on a walking adventure in the beautiful countryside to uncover one of Azerbaijan’s finest local products: Caucasian mountain honey.
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00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:04 The greater Caucasus, with its mix of mountains and plains,
00:07 lies along the ancient Silk Road, where Europe meets Asia.
00:11 The remote mountain villages and immaculate countryside
00:14 make it the perfect destination for lovers
00:17 of the great outdoors.
00:20 I need something to start my day before I can uncover
00:24 the secrets of these mountains.
00:26 I usually have honey on my bread for breakfast,
00:29 so I decided to go straight to the source to get it.
00:33 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:39 We are in the village of Lekit, northwestern Azerbaijan.
00:42 Here, for centuries, locals have been
00:44 producing the nectar of the gods,
00:46 Caucasian mountain honey.
00:49 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
00:50 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
01:18 The mild climate here is perfect for developing
01:21 a wild beekeeping tradition known as tekne.
01:24 By using a hollowed log carved from soft trees,
01:27 tekne hives replicate the natural habitat
01:30 of tree-dwelling bees.
01:32 The absence of human interference
01:34 is what distinguishes it from normal beekeeping.
01:37 However, in the 19th century, Azerbaijan's traditional tekne
01:41 hives were increasingly replaced by frame hives.
01:45 Only a few producers continue to use them for raising bees.
01:50 What's this?
01:51 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
02:06 Bees here are from a particular species,
02:08 the rare Caucasian mountain gray honey bee.
02:11 Its special attributes enable it to fly better
02:14 in cooler conditions and survive the winter.
02:17 I was allowed to observe them close up.
02:19 Not too close, though.
02:22 No, thank you.
02:23 Every Azerbaijani breakfast table
02:28 traditionally serves honey with homemade butter.
02:31 Let's see how we can eat it here.
02:34 Rengis, what are we preparing today?
02:37 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
02:50 The mahara butter is made with eggs, milk, flour, and salt.
02:54 The salt is what gives it a unique taste.
02:58 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
03:11 The preparation of a perfect mahara
03:13 requires a particular technique and significant manual
03:16 dexterity.
03:18 OK, it's like doing a cracker.
03:22 Maharas, which are traditionally
03:24 made on the eve of the Novruz holiday in spring,
03:27 represent a rebirth and rejuvenation
03:29 after a long winter.
03:31 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
03:53 That's so tasty.
03:54 It's amazing.
03:55 I've never tried honey so fresh before.
03:57 Now that I have all the energy I need,
04:07 I'm ready for a hike in this beautiful landscape.
04:10 Let's go.
04:13 Just outside the village of Lekit,
04:15 there are several hiking trails that
04:17 go deep into the forest of the Greater Caucasus.
04:20 And it isn't a very difficult hike
04:22 before you come across a fairy tale, the Mamerle
04:25 waterfall and its surrounding moss
04:27 suddenly appear from nowhere.
04:29 This green carpet is a result of hundreds of years of water
04:33 flowing amongst the rocks and the sunlight not
04:35 penetrating the thick forest.
04:36 I need to end my trip in the Caucasus Mountains
04:42 here with a breath of fresh air and surrounded
04:45 by this magnificent nature, a peaceful place
04:49 to regenerate my soul.
04:51 [MUSIC PLAYING]
04:54 [MUSIC ENDS]
04:57 (upbeat music)