The bear-shaped honey bottle has been a pantry icon for nearly 70 years. It's instantly recognizable, a little nostalgic, and, for many of us, the first “bear” we ever met at breakfast.

But where did this honey-loving mascot come from?

Shouldn't it be a bee-shaped bottle instead, since bears don't make honey?

And why do so many honey bottles still take the same shape today?

The first bear bottle debuted in 1957, dreamed up by Ralph and Luella Gamber of Dutch Gold Honey in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The Gambers wanted a bottle that stood out on grocery shelves. Bears, after all, were famous for loving honey and breaking into — which still happens today. Their timing was impeccable. The 1950s were Peak Bear when it came to pop culture: Yogi Bear, Winnie the Pooh, Teddy bears galore. The bear-shaped honey bottle was cute, it was clever, and it sold.

But while the bear-shaped bottle became a national symbol of sweetness, what’s inside those bears hasn’t always been so pure. Many mass-market honey bears today contain adulterated honey. That’s code for honey (usually foreign, low-quality honey) mixed with corn syrup or other sweeteners to cut costs. Others are imported and ultra-filtered, stripping away the pollen that gives raw, U.S.-harvested honey its distinct flavor and character.

The Local Hive Bear Bottle: Proudly American

Local Hive Honey’s new bear bottle feels a little like history repeating itself. (In a good way.) It’s the same classic shape, but what’s inside is something the original inventors would’ve loved: 100% U.S., raw & unfiltered honey, sourced from trusted American beekeepers. No additives, no imported blends. Just real, regional honey that tastes like where it’s from.

It’s a sweet full-circle moment: a nostalgic bottle filled with honey that actually honors the bees, the land, and the craft of beekeeping.

You can stock up today at your local Walmart. Local Hive will be rolling out the bear bottle at grocery stores nationwide throughout 2026. Then, every time you see that little bear on your shelf, know you’re looking at more than a cute container. You’re seeing a promise that what’s inside is as real as it gets: honey in its pure, natural state.