ALEPPO — Mohammed Khattab inherited beekeeping from his father. Through eight years of conflict, war and economic difficulties, he has struggled to keep his hives going. A native of the town of Marea, in the northern Aleppo countryside, Khattab calls his hives “the greatest legacy” from his father.
Beekeeping is one of the oldest professions in the Aleppo countryside, whose mild climate and fertile plains are favorable for bees. The region, particularly in the north, is well known for its light-colored honey, often with undertones of the fennel and coriander found in abundance there. The beekeepers also boast about the nutritional value and health benefits of their honey.
