A Local Christmas Gift with a Feel Good Story

Almost one year ago, I read a post in the Facebook group for Atlantic Canadians helping Ukrainians. A woman in Nova Scotia was looking for an English tutor for a recently arrived Ukrainian woman she was hosting. I (an English teacher) offered to tutor.

Several days later I met Yuliia, recently arrived in Canada from Ukraine with her partner. They were being hosted by a couple in Halifax who were going to help provide English lessons with me. Yuliia and I were almost the same age; she already had work in Canada, and had settled in quickly. We got to work, reading, writing, and practising conversation two times a week.

I saw Yuliia more often than I saw most of my friends. Meeting with someone twice a week- and later more often when she joined my group classes – makes you quite friendly with them. In the summer, several months after we met for the first time, I was invited to Yuliia’s wedding, and was honoured to be one of a handful of guests as she got married on a hilltop in Nova Scotia.

Not only is Yuliia trilingual, a horror movie buff, and an SEO expert; since coming to Canada she is now also a small business owner. Yuliia makes honeyed nuts under her business Honey Bee-Tasty. She uses local Nova Scotia honey and a variety of nuts and nut combos to construct her delicious treats.

They are delicious eaten on their own, but you can also try them:

• with berries and whipped cream
• swirled in cottage cheese
• with crackers and cheese
• alongside savoury biscuits
• on toast
• as a topping for cheesecake
• added to muffins, on top of pancakes or other baking

If you are looking for a Christmas gift that supports local producers, and new Canadians, perhaps a jar of honeyed nuts is the answer. You can find Yuliia by email at beetastyhoney@gmail.com, Facebook and Instagram @bee_tasty_honey.

All photos from Honey Bee-Tasty, used with permission

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