About Us

Our Story

How It All Began

We are cousins — Manuel and Patricia — born and raised in the small town of Xul-Ha, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Nestled at the start of one of the most stunning lagoons in the world, Xul-Ha is surrounded by rich tropical jungle, home to a vibrant variety of wildflowers and deep-rooted Mayan traditions. This land and its beauty are the foundation of what would one day become the Xul-Ha Honey Company.

Manuel’s Journey – From Childhood Curiosity to Beekeeper

My name is Manuel, and my journey with bees began when I was just a child.
I grew up on a small ranch on the outskirts of Xul-Ha. Before I was even four years old, my grandfather began teaching me the art of beekeeping. I remember one of my earliest experiences — walking beside him on our way to the apiary, struggling to keep up with my tiny steps and carrying the smoker that felt much too heavy for me. I set it on my knees to rest and burned myself by accident. It was painful, but that’s how my learning began.

Back then, bees were more docile, but like every beekeeper, I experienced the sting. My face, eyes, and lips would swell, but over time, my body adjusted to the toxins. Today, I still get stung, but I’ve learned to endure it — part of the price for the privilege of working with these amazing creatures.

In the early 1990s, I immigrated to the U.S. seeking a better life. My goal was to save enough money to return to Mexico and continue working with bees. I returned in 2006 with that dream still alive. Starting with just five hives, my first harvest reignited my passion. There is something magical about witnessing what bees can produce. That feeling never gets old.

However, beekeeping in the Yucatán Peninsula isn’t easy. Market prices for honey are unstable, often manipulated by large collection centers, and can drop so low that small producers like me barely survive. Recent years have been especially hard. That’s when I began to explore producing additional bee-derived products — like pollen, propolis, wax, and royal jelly — with a focus on reaching the U.S. market.

This dream wouldn’t have moved forward without my cousin Patty, who has always felt more like a sister. We grew up across the street from each other and share many of the same childhood memories. Her energy and determination have helped take this project to the next level.

Patricia’s Vision – From the U.S. to the Roots of Xul-Ha

My name is Patricia, but most people call me Patty. I moved to the United States when I was sixteen and now live in California.

While my story with bees is very different from Manuel’s, the connection to honey has always been there. Growing up, I loved eating fresh honey straight from the comb and enjoying it year-round as part of my daily diet. But I had never imagined working in the honey business myself.

I built a life in the U.S., working in corporate America while raising my three sons. Over the years, I earned both my bachelor's and master's degrees in Business Administration — always with a dream of starting my own business. Life had other priorities for a while, but that desire never faded.

On a trip back home, I visited Manuel’s apiaries and something clicked. I fell in love with the bees, the process, the story — and most of all, the idea of working together to bring our family’s honey to the world. That’s how our importing company was born.

Our Mission

Together, we produce about 15 tons of honey per year, all bottled in our hometown warehouse in Xul-Ha. Our mission is simple:
To bring the intense, unique flavor of our jungle honey to homes everywhere.

We believe all honey is a gift from nature — but the biodiversity of our region gives our honey something special. Each spoonful delivers a rich, floral taste that’s impossible to describe but unforgettable once experienced. It connects you to the wildflowers, the jungle, and the magic of the land that raised us.

Each harvest tells a different story. Each jar is a taste of our roots.