Doha, Qatar: Souq Waqif will host the 7th Souq Waqif International Honey Exhibition at the Eastern Square from January 22 to 31, 2026, bringing together around 100 pavilions and a mix of local and international producers offering a wide range of honey varieties and related products.
The annual exhibition is expected to attract both collectors and regular buyers with different grades, prices and origins, while this year’s programme also includes an on-site honey-testing laboratory for quality checks and a specialist doctor for treating bee stings, according to Souq Waqif announcement.
Stalls will feature popular types such as Sidr, Manuka, and Stingless Bee honey, alongside wax, pollen and other bee-related products.
The exhibition is not only a marketplace, but also a practical space to compare taste, aroma and texture, and to learn how production methods affect quality, especially as honey can vary widely depending on floral source, season, and handling after harvest.
How honey is extracted is often where quality is won or lost.
After bees cap ripe honey in the comb, beekeepers typically remove frames, uncap the sealed cells, then use centrifugal extraction to spin honey out.
The honey is then strained, allowed to settle so wax particles rise, and finally stored in clean, food-grade containers away from heat and moisture.
Overheating during processing can reduce aroma and may affect sensitive compounds, while poor storage can increase fermentation risk, particularly in high-moisture honeys.
When buying, start with traceability: ask about origin, harvest season and whether the seller provides lab results (the on-site lab should help).
Good honey usually has a clean, consistent aroma and a flavour that matches its floral claim.
Be cautious of “too cheap” products or jars with unclear labeling.
Honey also holds deep cultural meaning in the region.
The Qur’an references honey as containing healing for people, and traditional Arab practice has long used it in home remedies and foods, often as a soothing ingredient during winter illnesses, and as a valued natural sweetener.
