A beekeeper met a technology geek some years ago in Finland – this is how the story of One and a Half started. Why 1 and a 1/2? Because one of us is more into chasing bee swarms while the other prefers coding beekeeping apps.
We each have our own strengths, and we learn from each other. The products we bring to your table are the result of working together.
Committed to bringing sustainably sourced products to you, all the raw ingredients are carefully selected from Finnish fields and forests by us.
Our philosophy
Bee friendly
We view beekeeping as a mutually beneficial partnership between the beekeeper and bees. Unlike industrial honey producers, we prioritize gentle treatment and avoid exploitation. To name some of our practices, we take our time when inspecting the hives so that the bees don’t get crushed, we do not use air blowers to blow bees out of the hive during honey harvest and we do not use any pollen collectors that can harm the bees’ legs.
Honey bees naturally generate an abundance of honey, and we responsibly harvest only the surplus to ensure their survival during winter with ample resources. It makes no sense to deplete all the resources from our bee friends, only to find them deprived in spring.
Did you know?
In Finland, the likelihood of honey bees surviving in the wild on their own is close to zero. This is mainly due to the fact that honey bees are not native to Finland. The first original bee breed imported to Finland is the Nordic dark bee.
Quality over Quantity
We handle small volumes of honey to maintain the distinctiveness of each drop, as its taste is influenced by the varied sources of nectar collected by the bees. Large-scale honey processing involves blending multiple batches, often subjected to high temperatures that strip away the beneficial properties of this liquid gold.
We not only treat our bees gently, but we also use wooden hives to provide the bees with a material close to their heart instead of the commonly used styrofoam boxes with plastic frames. We refurbish the hives regularly with cleaned and disinfected “furniture” and we do not keep old wax walls in the hive to make sure the honey extracted from it is as pure as possible.
You probably noticed
You probably noticed that the honey from a supermarket always looks and tastes the same. We can assure you that the honey is slightly different each year depending on the season, not only when it comes to taste, but also when it comes to its colour or consistency. The honey processed in high volumes is a mix of several batches, oftentimes deprecated by heating to make the packaging easier and appearance familiar to customers.
100% nature
There is a beauty in simplicity, meaning our honey comes to your table raw from the hive. We do not blend together different honey harvests, we do not heat it, we do not mix into it any additives. That way we ensure that all the natures’ good such as antioxidant, bacteriostatic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties are preserved in our honey.
It is all local
Our bees thrive in the fields and forests of Southern Finland. Partnering with local farmers and communities allows our bees’ efforts to truly stand out! Our commitment to local sourcing and reducing waste is evident in our use of eco-friendly packaging too.
Our products and services
Michaela
Beekeeper
The team behind the honey
Juha-Pekka
Propeller hat
Lissa and Nessa
Branch managers