Under The Mango Tree

Why do we exist

2011-04-23T13:09:00.000+05:30

I am often asked why what we do Under The Mango Tree.
Farming is the main income source of 80% of India’s rural poor. Declining agricultural productivity has put unbearable stress on farming livelihoods, forcing farmers into cycles of debt or abandoning farms to migrate to cities.

Additionally, bee populations globally are under threat. Their role in agriculture is critical – four out of five foods depend on bees for their reproduction through pollination - their impact on agricultural productivity therefore significant.

UTMT develops capacities of poor farmers with annual incomes of USD450 add indigenous beekeeping to their activities. Village-level, farmer-friendly training incorporates local knowledge, so that bee management is learned and experienced seasonally. Sustainable support is ensured by a local cadre of “bee-doctors”, intensively trained to support and expand the activity locally. Farms are certified organic & fair-trade, honey and beeswax aggregated by farmers is sold directly to UTMT ensuring buy-back at premium prices.

Case study of our Bees for Poverty Reduction pilot up on Beekeeping Times....please read about our amazing farmers...

2010-12-22T09:27:00.002+05:30

http://beekeepingtimes.com/index.php/news-&-events/development-news/63/304-bees-for-poverty-reduction-pilot-utmt-case-studies

What's with our name?

2010-11-24T08:30:00.000+05:30

People often ask us how we came on the name - Under The Mango Tree. The story goes as follows:

In Indian villages, especially those located in drought-prone semi-arid regions (60% of India), a tree stands out in the dry space, often a mango tree.

Under the shade of a mango tree, men and women farmers rest awhile, children tired after playing in the sun take a break, women returning home after filling their water containers stop for a breather. A community bonds. Wandering traders eyeing a potential sale – stop by offering their wares...

There is discussion, learning and sale...villagers learn about the world outside their own, its changes and its needs...traders understand the life of the rural producer...

There is trade and sometimes barter...

Each group - rested, more learned… moves on.

For a moment in the heat of the day, the shade of the mango tree offers respite!

And so “Under The Mango Tree” is a metaphor highlighting our mission to support rural livelihoods.

Questions we are often asked about Honey

2009-07-09T22:35:00.002+05:30

Why do small crystals sometimes form in clear honey?
Around 80% of honey's composition is natural sugars, transformed by the bees from nectar. These natural sugars, which are mainly fructose and glucose, remain liquid at room temperature, but at colder temperatures, the glucose separates from the rest of the sugars and forms small crystals. These are harmless. If you want these crystals to dissolve, simply stand the honey jar in your airing cupboard or a basin of warm water for a little time and - hey presto - they'll disappear!
Should I be worried if my clear honey goes cloudy?
No. Any cloudiness in clear honey comes from molecules of air trapped in the thick, golden honey. The flavour is not affected at all. To help these disperse, simply put the jar in your airing cupboard or a basin of warm water for a little time. Is that clear?
Why does set honey sometimes go hard?
If you store honey at very low temperatures, it 'frosts'. Frosting is harmless and happens when the natural crystals begin to bond together to form a lattice network - the colder the temperature, the stronger the network, the harder the honey. To soften a frosted honey, it just needs a gentle warming in somewhere like the airing cupboard for a day or so.
Why does set honey sometimes go runny?
Usually, heat is the culprit. Honey exposed to direct sunlight or strong heat softens and melts. To make this honey set again, it needs a spell in the fridge for a few hours, after which it'll be perfectly happy - and perfectly delicious - at room temperature.
Why is honey not suitable for infants under 12 months?
Honey is a completely natural food, harvested from some of the world's most beautiful, remote spots. The fact is that an infant's digestive tract isn't quite ready to process some of the naturally-occurring constituents in honey, and this inability could potentially cause constipation followed by general weakness which would, of course, stop baby feeding properly.

Our Annual Subscription offer

2009-02-20T19:33:00.007+05:30

Try our sweet subscription offer, where you will receive a new variety of honey every month for the year home delivered. Or gift your loved one a subscription. At Rs. 1700/- inclusive of home delivery (out of Mumbai pay actual courier costs) its an opulent gift full of natural goodness, what better gift for your loved ones? We start with fresh mango honey in march, followed by sweet clover, litchi, mahua, desert bloom etc.
Please call us at 9833154478 or email us at utmt.in@gmail.com for more details.

Of Bees and Honey...at the Kala Ghoda Festival 2009

2009-02-17T09:04:00.004+05:30

Of bees and honey…
Kala Ghoda Festival 2009
Sunday, February 8th 2009, 11am to 1pm
Parking Lot (opp Rhythm House)

Under The Mango Tree (UTMT) and Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC) invite you and your family to celebrate bees and honey with us at the Kala Ghoda Festival.
Here's a lil' something for everyone…

Tent I (For Adults)
11.00– 11.45am: Prominent Nutritionist Ms. Rujuta Diwekar (Author of forthcoming book, "Don't lose your mind, lose your weight" will talk on why honey is good for you!
12.00-1.00pm: 'Cooking with honey' by gastronomy writer and well known food columnist, Ms. Rushina Munshaw Ghildiyal, along with tastings.

Tent II (for Children: 5-10 years)
11.15-11.45 am: Face Painting, Slide Show, Web of Life Activity, Bee Dance
12.00-1.00pm: Drawing and Painting focusing on bees and the environment.

Do call Maya (9833666585)/ Sujana (9892005220)/Vijaya (9833154478) for further details.

Upper Crust 2008

2008-11-26T15:03:00.007+05:30

Catch us at the Upper Crust Show from December 5th to 7th at the World Trade Center, Mumbai.

We will have a variety of honeys on offer - each as distinct as its floral source. In addition to our regular range, we are introducting some newly sourced honeys: Desert Bloom, Chambal Gold, Himalayan Flora and Coorg Coffee. Also available are honey based salad dressing and zippy marinades.

This year, in addition our honeys and just in time for your Christmas baking needs, we have organic certified vanilla beans from Gods Own Country as well as Vanilla Bean sugar.

Indulge your gifting sprit by gifting the wealth of nature's bounty to your loved ones... Create personalized gift packs - mix and match honeys with honeycomb beeswax candles made by tribals supported by Keystone Foundation put together in a beautiful hand-crafted jute box.

See you at our stall this December.