Same seller, same price, 4 months apart. I logged both carefully. The second batch was noticeably stronger — same dose, earlier onset, more pronounced heart rate effect. I reached out to the seller and they said it was a spring harvest batch; their autumn stock had run out. I hadn't paid attention to that distinction before. The CoA for the new batch showed 6.8mg/kg vs 3.1mg/kg for the previous one. More than double the potency at the same price.
Spring vs. autumn is very real and well-documented. Spring harvest — typically April–May in Nepal — coincides with peak Rhododendron bloom. The bees are foraging heavily on flowers with high grayanotoxin concentrations at exactly that time. Autumn harvest is lower potency partly because the rhododendrons aren't in full bloom and partly because bees are foraging more broadly across multiple plant species. The CoA difference can be 2–4x between seasons from the same region.
Confirmed from the sourcing side. Spring Cliff honey from the Mustang or Lamjung region is consistently the most potent type we work with. The collectors know this — the pricing reflects it too. Autumn honey has its own character and value, it's not inferior — just different and generally milder. If you're buying for consistent experience, track which season you're getting, or stick with a seller who clearly labels the harvest.