Kelulut honey is one of the East Malaysian ingredients most cocktail bars in the Klang Valley still do not know about. Sarawak and Sabah have a long stingless-beekeeping tradition; the honey produced is unlike anything from the Apis honeybee. Thinner consistency, much more liquid, naturally sour from higher acid content. In cocktails, kelulut acts as both sweetener and acid-modifier in one.
What it is
Honey produced by stingless bees (sometimes called "meliponine bees"). Multiple species across Borneo, including Heterotrigona itama, Geniotrigona thoracica, and Tetragonula laeviceps. The bees are smaller than European honeybees, do not sting, and store honey in wax pots instead of combs. Honey collection is by extraction from the pots.
Flavour profile
Sweet-sour, citrus-floral, with a faintly funky-fermented finish. Less viscous than Apis honey (drinks more like syrup than honey). The natural sourness is 2-3x higher than regular honey, similar to a mild vinegar shrub.
Pairs naturally with gin, white rum, mezcal, tequila, sake, brandy. Companion ingredients: lime, lemon, ginger, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaf, calamansi.
Where to source kelulut honey in Malaysia
Sarawak and Sabah: direct from beekeepers at weekend markets or specialty shops. RM 60 to 150 per 250g jar.
Peninsular Malaysia: specialty grocers (BIG, Mercato, Salam Cheese), Sarawak House products, online (Shopee/Lazada have Sarawak kelulut suppliers).
Quality marker: the honey should be runny (not crystallised), with a tangy-sour smell, packaged in clear glass. Adulterated kelulut is becoming common; buy from named producers when possible.
How to prep kelulut honey for cocktails
Direct dose. 10-15ml kelulut honey, no dilution. It is already liquid enough to mix straight.
Kelulut syrup (for batching). 1 part kelulut + 1 part warm water. Whisk to combine. Bottle.
Kelulut shrub. Already shrub-adjacent because of the natural acidity. Boost: add 30ml fresh lime juice per 100ml kelulut, stir.
Kelulut-infused mezcal. 30ml kelulut + 250ml mezcal, gentle warm to dissolve, cool. The mezcal picks up the honey-sour edge.
Best cocktails with kelulut honey
Kelulut Bee's Knees: gin, fresh lemon, kelulut honey (no extra water needed). The classic, reimagined.
Borneo Penicillin: blended Scotch, Islay, fresh lemon, kelulut honey, fresh ginger.
Kelulut Margarita: tequila, fresh lime, triple sec, kelulut honey, kelulut-salt rim.
Calamansi-Kelulut Highball: gin, fresh calamansi, kelulut honey, soda.
NA Kelulut Spritz: kelulut honey + fresh lime + cold sparkling water.
Substitutions
- Regular honey + a few drops of lime juice approximates the sweet-sour character.
- Apple cider vinegar + regular honey for the funkier sour-sweet direction.
No perfect substitute. Kelulut is itself.
Related reading
- Malaysia Day cocktails (East-Malaysian-leaning)
- Bee's Knees recipe (the natural honey-and-gin base)
- Penicillin recipe (honey-Scotch-ginger build)
- Calamansi ingredient page
- Ginger ingredient page
- Best Malaysian cocktails 2026
Frequently asked questions
What does kelulut honey taste like in cocktails?
Kelulut honey is sweet-sour and citrus-floral, with a faintly funky-fermented finish. Natural acidity is two to three times higher than regular Apis honey, closer to a mild shrub. The consistency is much thinner than ordinary honey, which lets it act as both sweetener and acid-modifier in one ingredient.
Where can I buy kelulut honey in Malaysia?
East Malaysia: direct from Sarawak and Sabah beekeepers at weekend markets, RM 60 to 150 per 250g jar. Klang Valley: specialty grocers (BIG, Mercato, Salam Cheese), Sarawak House products, and named Sarawak suppliers on Shopee and Lazada. Look for clear glass, runny consistency, and a tangy aroma; adulterated kelulut is increasingly common.
What can I substitute for kelulut honey?
No clean substitute, but you can approximate. Regular honey plus a few drops of fresh lime juice covers the sweet-sour direction. Apple cider vinegar plus regular honey covers the funkier sour-sweet register. Neither captures the kelulut character, which is genuinely its own thing.
Which cocktails use kelulut honey?
Our regular kelulut builds are Kelulut Bee's Knees (gin, lemon, kelulut), Borneo Penicillin (blended Scotch, Islay, lemon, kelulut, fresh ginger), Kelulut Margarita with a kelulut-salt rim, Calamansi-Kelulut Highball, and an NA Kelulut Spritz. Available on request at Soluble Solids when we have stock from Sarawak.
How long does kelulut honey keep?
Kelulut honey keeps 12 to 18 months refrigerated, less at room temperature because of the higher water content. It can ferment slowly in warm conditions, which is not always bad but changes the character. Kelulut syrup (1:1 with warm water) keeps two weeks refrigerated. Kelulut-infused mezcal keeps indefinitely.