They are different products. Turkey Honey, sold in Kerala as Turkey Jam, is Turkish macun: a thick herbal honey paste made in Turkey and sold in jars and sachets. "Royal honey" is a name used by several other brands of honey sachets. The US FDA has found hidden prescription-drug ingredients in some royal honey brands, so check any pack carefully before you buy.
Search for Turkey Honey in Delhi, Jaipur or Kolkata and you will often see "royal honey" sachets in the same results. The two are sold to similar customers, so the names get mixed up online and in shops. Here is how they differ.
Two names that get mixed up
Turkey Honey is one of several Indian names for Turkish macun (also sold as Epimedyumlu Macun). In Kerala most people call it Turkey Jam; in North India, Mumbai and West Bengal, Turkey Honey or Turkish Honey is more common. It is the same product. Read what is Turkey Jam for the full story.
Royal honey is a name used by many separate brands of honey sachets. It is not a type of honey, and it is not Turkish macun.
Royal honey is also not the same as royal jelly, a bee product. Royal jelly is one of the ingredients listed on the Turkish macun we sell, which adds to the confusion.
Side by side
| Turkey Honey (Turkey Jam) | Royal honey sachets | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Turkish macun: a honey paste with herbs, roots and spices | Honey-based sachets sold under many brand names |
| Made in | Turkey | Varies by brand |
| Packs | 43 g and 240 g jars, and single-serve sachets | Mostly single-serve sachets |
| Ingredients | On our packs: flower honey, Epimedium (0.79%), three kinds of ginseng, maca, ginger, galangal, cinnamon, royal jelly, pollen and other herbs | Varies by brand. Read the label. |
| Price at Turkish Honey | From ₹899 (full price list) | We do not sell royal honey |
What regulators have found
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has tested several honey sachets sold for "sexual enhancement" and found prescription-drug ingredients that were not on the label. For example, the FDA reported that Royal Honey VIP contained tadalafil, the active ingredient in Cialis, and that ETUMAX VIP Royal Honey for Him contained sildenafil and tadalafil, the active ingredients in Viagra and Cialis. In 2022 it also sent warning letters to companies selling honey products with names like "Royal Honey for Him".
Hidden drugs like these can lower blood pressure to dangerous levels, especially in people who take nitrate medicines for chest pain. Warnings have not been limited to one name or one country, which is why checking the pack matters whatever it is called.
What to check on any pack
- An intact seal. Do not accept a jar or sachet that looks opened or resealed.
- Batch number and expiry date, printed clearly on the pack.
- The maker's name and address. Turkish macun should show the Turkish manufacturer.
- A full ingredient list. If the label does not say what is inside, do not buy it.
- A seller you can reach, with a phone number, an address and a returns policy.
- A lab report. Ask the seller whether the product has been tested for hidden drug ingredients.
Our guide to identifying original Turkey Jam goes through these checks in more detail.
Which one are you looking for?
If you are looking for the dark Turkish herbal paste that friends call Turkey Honey or Turkey Jam, you want Turkish macun. Look for "Macun" or "Epimedyumlu Macun" and a Turkish maker on the label.
Original Turkish macun in sachets and jars, from ₹899. Delivered across India.
See packsWe sell Turkish macun (Turkey Jam / Turkey Honey) and Erkexin Power Herbal. We do not sell royal honey.
Who should not use these products
Turkey Honey is a food product, not a medicine, and it is not suitable for everyone:
- Anyone under 18, and pregnant or breastfeeding women.
- People with high blood pressure, a heart or liver condition, or diabetes.
- Anyone taking nitrate medicines (for chest pain) or blood-pressure medicines.
If you have any health condition or take regular medicines, talk to your doctor before use.
Questions
Is Turkey Honey the same as royal honey?
No. Turkey Honey (Turkey Jam) is Turkish macun, a herbal honey paste made in Turkey. Royal honey is a name used by several other brands of honey sachets.
Is Turkey Honey the same as Turkey Jam?
Yes. Turkey Honey, Turkey Jam, Turkish Honey and Turkish macun are all names for the same kind of herbal honey paste.
Does Turkey Honey contain royal jelly?
The Turkish macun we sell lists royal jelly among its ingredients. Royal jelly is a bee product; it is not the same as royal honey sachets.
Do you sell royal honey?
No. We sell Turkish macun (Turkey Jam / Turkey Honey) and Erkexin Power Herbal.
What is the Turkey Honey price in India?
At Turkish Honey, 3 sachets are ₹899, 4 sachets ₹1,099, 6 sachets ₹1,399, 12 sachets ₹2,399, the 43 g jar ₹1,499 and the 240 g jar ₹2,799. Cash on Delivery is ₹100 extra.
