East Africa · Dessert
Ubuki (Raw Forest Honey Treat)
A velvety, aromatic confection of raw Nyungwe forest honey warmed with crushed roasted groundnuts, toasted sesame seeds, and spiced ginger.
The story
In the forested highland ridges of Nyungwe and Gishwati, forest honey (ubuki) has been gathered by Batwa and local beekeepers for centuries using traditional woven bark hives. This unrefined dessert is served after festive communal feasts or as a prized restorative gift for nursing mothers and honored elders. Raw Rwandan forest honey features a distinctively smoky, resinous floral profile due to the diverse indigenous canopy, requiring gentle indirect warming to preserve its active enzymatic qualities.
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