The Asian honeybee, native to China and managed there for over 2,000 years. Smaller than European Apis mellifera and better adapted to native Asian plants.

China Edition

China's Plate Without Bees

Six iconic Chinese dishes. Over 800 native bee species. What vanishes from the plate when the pollinators disappear.

China is home to more than 800 bee species, including Apis cerana, the Asian honeybee and the oldest managed honeybee in human history. Without pollinators, an estimated 75% of globally important food crop species cannot produce fruit, seed, or viable harvest. This tool shows what that means for six iconic Chinese dishes, from Kung Pao Chicken to Mango Pudding, using peer-reviewed dependency data from Klein et al. (2007). Select a dish, then remove the bees.

Source: Klein et al. (2007), Dependence of World Crops on Pollinators. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 274(1608), 303-313. Dependency categories: Essential 95%, High 65%, Modest 25%, Little 5%, None 0%.

Key Takeaways

87 of the world's leading food crops depend on animal pollination to some degree (Klein et al., 2007)
Without bees, Chinese Mango Pudding loses both its fruit ingredients - mango and lychee are both pollinator-dependent
China is the world's largest honey producer with over 400,000 tonnes annually from more than 9 million managed colonies
Apis cerana, the Asian honeybee, was the original managed honeybee in Chinese beekeeping predating European Apis mellifera by thousands of years
Sesame seeds, a defining flavour across all regional Chinese cuisines, carry a 65% pollinator dependency rating

Why Chinese Cuisine Depends on Bees

Chinese cuisine spans eight major regional traditions but a common dependency connects them all. Sesame seeds appear across every tradition, from northern flatbreads to Sichuan chilli oil to Cantonese dim sum, and carry a 65% pollinator dependency rating. Spring onions are the universal garnish at 65% dependency. Lychee, the defining southern fruit, carries 95% essential dependency. Kung Pao Chicken loses its red peppers (65%), spring onion (65%), and sesame (65%) without pollinators - three of six ingredients gone. China is the world's largest apple and pear producer, and both crops are significantly pollinator-dependent.

China is also the world's largest honey producer with over 400,000 tonnes annually from more than 9 million managed colonies. Apis cerana, the Asian honeybee native to China, has been managed for over 2,000 years. It is smaller than European Apis mellifera and better adapted to native Chinese plants. The shift to imported European honeybees for commercial production has reduced native Apis cerana populations in many regions with consequences for native plant species.

"Without bees, Chinese Mango Pudding loses both its fruit ingredients. Mango carries 25% modest dependency. Lychee carries 95% essential dependency. Two fruits, two dependencies, one empty bowl."

The Science Behind Chinese Crop Pollination

800+

Native bee species in China

China's vast geographic range from tropical Yunnan to the Tibetan plateau supports exceptional bee diversity. Key species include Apis cerana (Asian honeybee), multiple Bombus bumblebee species, and hundreds of Andrena mining bee species. Approximately 74% of Chinese bee species are at risk. Data: Chinese bee survey literature and IUCN assessments.

Key pollinator dependencies in Chinese cuisine include lychee (95%), cucumbers (95%), sesame (65%), soybeans/edamame (65%), apples (65%), pears (65%), spring onions (65%), red peppers (65%), and mango (25% modest). Our Acacia Honey comes from Transylvanian Carpathian forests. Read more on the About page, try our honey subscription and save 20%, or explore the World Bee Atlas. For bee decline, read our article on why bee populations are declining.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which Chinese foods disappear without bees?

Sesame seeds, spring onions, red peppers, cucumbers, lychee, mango, soybeans, apples, and pears are all significantly pollinator-dependent. Rice, noodles, pork, and fish are largely unaffected.

How many bee species live in China?

China has over 800 native bee species across its vast geographic range. Key species include Apis cerana (Asian honeybee), managed in China for over 2,000 years. Approximately 74% of Chinese bee species are at risk.

What is Apis cerana?

Apis cerana is the Asian honeybee, native to China and managed there for over 2,000 years. It is smaller than European Apis mellifera, better adapted to native Asian plants, and more resistant to local parasites and diseases.

Is China the world's largest honey producer?

Yes. China produces over 400,000 tonnes of honey annually from more than 9 million managed colonies - more than any other country on earth.

Does lychee production depend on bees?

Yes, at 95% essential dependency under Klein et al. (2007). China is the world's largest lychee producer at over 2 million tonnes annually. Chinese beekeepers have moved hives to lychee orchards during flowering for centuries.

What percentage of Chinese food requires pollinators?

Core flavour ingredients - sesame (65%), spring onions (65%), red peppers (65%), lychee (95%), and apples (65%) - are all significantly pollinator-dependent under Klein et al. (2007). Rice, noodles, and meat are largely unaffected.