What Is Sidr / Beri Ka Shehad?

Updated: September 2026

Beri ka shehad — better known as Sidr honey — is the honey made by bees that collect nectar from the Sidr tree (Ziziphus, locally called Beri or Jujube). In Pakistan, this honey is mainly produced in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the tree flowers in limited seasons. "Beri ka shehad" literally means "the honey of the Beri tree".

Where does Beri ka shehad come from?

Pakistani Sidr honey is associated most strongly with areas like Malakand and other districts of KPK, where Beekeepers place hives near beri trees during flowering. Trees are also common in Punjab and parts of Quetta, but KPK is the region Honey Home sources from.

What does it look and taste like?

• Colour: Deep amber to dark brown — much darker than acacia honey.
• Flavour: Rich, bold and slightly tangy, with a lingering warmth.
• Texture: Thick and heavy; raw Beri honey is slow to pour.
• Crystallization: It crystallizes naturally and can harden into a solid, grainy paste over time — a sign of genuine raw honey.

Why is it so popular?

Sidr honey is popular in Pakistan and the wider region for three honest reasons: it has a distinctive, strong flavour that people genuinely love; it is single-origin and cannot be blended like generic "mixed flower" honey while keeping its identity; and it has naturally low moisture, which gives raw honey a very long, stable shelf life when stored correctly.

Note: Traditional medicine has long used Sidr honey, but honey should be treated as a food. When health topics come up, we separate traditional use from scientifically established evidence and never promise cures.

How to store Beri ka shehad

• Keep the jar sealed in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight.
• Do not refrigerate — cold speeds up crystallization.
• If it hardens, place the sealed jar in warm (not boiling) water and stir gently. Never microwave honey.
• Keep water and moisture out of the jar to avoid fermentation.

Real Beri vs blended honey

Some "beri honey" sold in the market is actually a mix of cheaper honeys. Ways to tell them apart are covered in our How to Identify Pure Honey guide. Where it is available, buy from a seller who states the source region, keeps it raw, and can show photos of the harvest or batch.

Frequently asked questions