RAW, HONEST,
AUTHENTIC

Our true north is to honour our bees and artisanal beekeepers as we showcase and preserve the art and beauty of some of South Africa’s most rare and treasured honey varietals.


Honey is mysterious and magical. By delighting guests with unique Honey Sensory Tasting experiences, we hope to spark a deep appreciation and consideration for all pollinators.

ABOUT LYON RAW

OUR VALUES

100% RAW

SUSTAINABLE

HONEST

GUARDIAN

RELATIONAL

Our Values

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Company Name

100% Raw

Honest

Sustainable

Guardians

Relational

WHY WE DO IT

To honour our bees and their keepers by showcasing and preserving the art and beauty of raw, honest South African honeys. We are passionate about this sacred produce, one of the last remaining slow and whole foods created entirely by nature. 

HOW WE WORK

Our exceptional honeys are personally curated by South Africa’s first internationally trained Honey Sommelier, Natasha Lyon. Each harvest must adhere to our selection standards and is sourced directly from small-scale beekeepers.


Our Lyon Raw honey experiences, guided by Natasha, are immersive, inspiring and deliciously different.

Natasha Lyon is part of an informal Honey Sommelier workgroup, led by Marina C. Marchese, a highly respected author, beekeeper and member of the Italian Honey Register. She and the other participants from 4 continents are trained by the Italian National Register in the sensory characteristics of honey. The National Register is the only food related body officially recognised by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture and they are world leaders in this highly specialised discipline and training. Honey Sommeliers are a small, but growing group of passionate, formally trained professionals dedicated to capturing the sensory characteristics of honey and evolving the way we experience raw, honest honey. The purpose of our collaboration is to maintain the standards of the training by the Italian National Registrar.

colleague Sommeliers

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Jessica Locarnini 🇦🇺

Jess's lifelong passion for honey and bees led to the creation of Honey Merchant in 2018. Trained as a Honey Sommelier by renowned experts in the US and Italy, she applies her skills to elevate Australia and New Zealand's local honey. Through masterclasses, judging, tastings, and collaborations, Jess inspires honey connoisseurs worldwide, promoting Antipodean honey's well-deserved recognition.

Marina Marchese 🇺🇸

Marina Marchese, author of HONEYBEE Lessons from an Accidental Beekeeper, The Honey Connoisseur, and Honey for Dummies, heads The American Honey Tasting Society. Passionate about changing people’s perception of honey, Marina trains to become a docent for the Italian National Register of Experts in Sensory Analysis of Honey while creating botanical art.

Paula Carnell 🇬🇧

Paula Carnell, Honey Sommelier, Author, TEDx Speaker, and Bee Consultant, is the Head Beekeeper at The Newt in Somerset UK. Founder of The Hive in Castle Cary UK, Paula shares her story of recovery from 7 years bedridden into beekeeping and naturopathic medicine. She’s passionate about Creating a Buzz about Health and shares her bee wisdom in podcasts.