From Bees to Science: My Journey into Mellisopalynology at the University of Hohenheim

University of Hohenheim

When people taste honey, most think only of its sweetness. For me, honey tells a far deeper story — one written in the pollen grains suspended within it. My own journey into this hidden world began in Germany, at the University of Hohenheim, under the mentorship of Professor Horn, who introduced me to the science of mellisopalynology.

Founded in 1818 as an agricultural teaching and research institute, the University of Hohenheim is the oldest university of agricultural science in Germany. Its historic yellow façade and expansive grounds became the backdrop to my education. Walking its halls, I carried with me a dream: to understand honey not merely as food, but as a biological fingerprint of the environment.

LHM honey waiting to be tested

Inside the honey laboratory, I found myself surrounded by shelves filled with jars of honey from across the world. Each jar represented a mystery waiting to be solved. Among them were jars of my own Little Honey Man honey from Uganda and Rwanda, waiting in line to be tested. It was in this place that agriculture and science met, and where the meticulous process of analysis revealed the origin and purity of honey.

Running through lesson on pollen identification

The heart of mellisopalynology is the microscope. For the first time, I looked at pollen grains magnified under its lens, and I understood what my mentor meant when he said, “Every pollen grain is a signature of nature.” Professor Horn guided me patiently, teaching me how to prepare slides, separate pollen from honey, and distinguish between species by the patterns hidden in their microscopic architecture. Through his guidance, the invisible world became visible, structured, and full of meaning.

I wasn’t just observing — I was immersed. Sitting at the same bench, peering into the same microscope, I began to build the skills that would shape my own practice. Each session became a lesson not only in science but in patience, accuracy, and respect for nature’s hidden complexity. What I saw astonished me: intricate structures, spines, and walls that distinguished one plant from another. These grains were the key to tracing the origin of honey, proving its authenticity, and protecting consumers from fraud.

The training I received gave me more than technical knowledge. It instilled in me a profound respect for the connection between bees, plants, and people. Under Professor Horn’s mentorship, I came to see that science is not only about precision but also about responsibility. Mellisopalynology provides the tools to safeguard traditions, protect honest beekeepers, and ensure that honey remains genuine.

Today, when I examine honey in my own practice, I carry with me the lessons of Hohenheim. Every slide, every pollen grain, connects me back to those days of learning under a great mentor. What began as curiosity has become a mission: to merge science with beekeeping, and to share with others the unseen story of honey. And soon, with my own laboratory set up in Singapore, I will continue this journey — bringing the science of mellisopalynology closer to home and opening new opportunities for discovery and education.

✨ Behind every jar of honey lies a forest of stories, hidden in the pollen. Thanks to Professor Horn and the University of Hohenheim, I learned how to read them.