2nd generation apiarist from Punjab's Doraha puts India on world beekeeping map

Ritu Kapoor Suri of Doraha inherited the art of beekeeping —a legacy deeply rooted in tradition and nature —from her father, Jagjit Singh Kapoor. What began as childhood visits to beehives soon blossomed into a lifelong passion for beekeeping.

After getting married, she carried this legacy to Goraya, where she founded Honey Queen Enterprises. As a second-generation beekeeper and visionary entrepreneur, Ritu has blended ancestral wisdom with modern innovation, transforming her passion into a purpose-driven enterprise that now earns applause on the international stage.

“My enterprise is built on the ethos of ethical, artisanal honey production. With a motto that reads ‘Empowering Health, One Drop at a Time’, the brand is as much about wellness as it is about sustainability. From infused honey assortments to educational outreach, Honey Queen is redefining what it means to be a responsible honey producer in the 21st century,” says Ritu.

A global voice for Indian apiculture

Ritu’s journey with Apimondia—the International Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations—began in 1997, when she attended her first Congress as a young enthusiast. Apimondia, founded in 1897 in Brussels, is a leading platform for apiculture, uniting researchers, honey producers and beekeepers from over 100 countries.

Over the years, Ritu became a regular participant, learning, sharing and growing with this global family and has been winning awards and titles since 2009. She won the prestigious title of “Apimondia World Honey Queen” in Montpellier, France, from 2009 to 2011 and in Buenos Aires from 2011 to 2013.

She has earned global acclaim for her exceptional honey varieties, winning multiple medals at the Apimondia World Beekeeping Awards. Her creations—ranging from nuts in honey to acacia organic honey and other artisanal blends—have consistently impressed international juries. Over the years, she has been honoured with several gold, silver and bronze medals across editions held in Kiev, Daejeon and Istanbul, recognising her for the ‘World’s Best Variety in Honey’, ‘World’s Best Nuts in Honey’ and ‘World’s Best Honey Display’, among others. These accolades reflect her mastery in crafting honey that blends purity, innovation and tradition.

In 2025, at the 49th Apimondia Congress in Copenhagen, Honey Queen Enterprises proudly represented India and won three medals at the World Beekeeping Awards (WBA)—gold for colour photography on a beekeeping theme, silver for a poster titled “Together We Make the World Bloom,” and bronze for a thematic album.

“I am happy to see that my daughters, Ekankaar and Charan Kamal Suri, have inherited my love for bees. They often join me in the field, mesmerised by the intricate dance of pollinators and the liquid gold they produce,” smiles Ritu.

A sweet future

Ritu’s journey is a reminder that passion, when nurtured with purpose, can transcend boundaries. From the fields of Doraha to the halls of Copenhagen, she has shown that even the smallest creatures—bees—can inspire the biggest dreams. And with every drop of honey, she continues to empower health, honour tradition and make the world bloom.