The research team
The content published on Cliff Mad Honey Index is produced by agricultural scientists and researchers with direct experience in bee ecology, honey research, and rural food systems in Nepal — the primary source region for mad honey. Every article is grounded in peer-reviewed literature, and safety information is reviewed for accuracy before publication.
How We Research
Our process begins with primary literature — peer-reviewed studies from toxicology, cardiology, and food science journals covering grayanotoxin pharmacology, clinical case reports, and honey production. Where primary sources are unavailable we reference established scientific consensus and note the limits of current evidence explicitly. We do not rely on anecdote or manufacturer claims without tracing back to the original source. Safety-relevant content is reviewed by at least one additional contributor before publication.
Our Contributors
Dhurba Saud is an agricultural researcher specialising in bee ecology and honey research. He holds a B.Sc. in Agriculture from Tribhuvan University and has led FAO-supported sustainable honey-harvesting projects across Nepal. His work focuses on the relationship between Rhododendron flora, grayanotoxin concentration in honey, and the traditional harvesting practices of cliff honey communities in the Himalayan foothills. On this site, Dhurba covers the science and toxicology of grayanotoxins, research reviews, and the ecology of mad honey production.
Bee ecology
Grayanotoxin science
Sustainable harvesting
Research literature
Sanjay Kafle is an agriculture scientist who holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Agriculture from Tribhuvan University. He has spent nearly a decade working alongside Nepali farming communities, focusing on sustainable food systems, crop nutrition, and the intersection of traditional agricultural practice and modern food science. On this site, Sanjay covers the agricultural and clinical dimensions of mad honey: sourcing, honey composition variability, and the practical safety considerations for consumption.
Agricultural science
Food systems
Honey composition
Clinical safety
Soma Thapa brings a background in commerce and strategy to her work in agriculture, focusing on agri-tourism, organic farming, and rural community development in Nepal. She has worked with farming cooperatives and rural producers across the Himalayan region, with particular interest in how traditional honey-production practices intersect with responsible tourism and market access. On this site, Soma covers consumer-facing topics: regional varieties, legality and sourcing, and the cultural context of mad honey use.
Agri-tourism
Organic farming
Rural development
Regional varieties
Editorial Standards
This site covers a YMYL topic — a substance with real physiological effects and a narrow margin between typical and harmful doses. We take that seriously. Content is not published if it cannot be sourced. Safety claims are conservative by default. When evidence is limited or contested, we say so. If you identify an error or have a question about a source, use the contact page.
