Bee bread
Bee bread is pollen packed into the comb and preserved by lactic fermentation; it is food for larvae and young worker bees.
Bee bread is flower pollen that Bees pack tightly into comb cells, where it undergoes lactic fermentation and is preserved by it. The bees add sugars and enzymes. The composition and nutritional value of bee bread differ from fresh bee pollen.
Bee bread is food for larvae and young worker bees. It is found on brood combs or combs near the brood nest, so the amounts in a hive are small. Pollen brought by the bees first lies in the cell, then souring turns it into a more stable store.
FAO describes the taste of bee bread as characteristically sour. In traditional beekeeping cultures it is eaten with brood and Honey during harvest.
Why this matters to you: bee bread is not the same as fresh pollen pellets. It is another product, in which the bees have already changed the pollen, so do not confuse the two on a label.
Facts
| Raw material | Flower pollen packed by bees into the comb |
|---|---|
| Taste | Characteristically sour (FAO description) |
| Main use | Food for larvae and young worker bees |
How it connects to Honey & beekeeping
Bee bread → kind of → Bee products → kind of → 🍯 Honey
Links
- Made from
- Bee pollen
- Part of
- Bee products
- Similar and different
- Sądecki Bartnik Bee-complex, Sądecki Bartnik Pierzga surowiec, Medozbir Perha
Frequently asked questions
What is bee bread?
Flower pollen packed by bees into the comb and preserved by lactic fermentation.
How does bee bread differ from pollen pellets?
Its composition and nutritional value differ from fresh pellets, because the bees add sugars and enzymes.
What do bees use bee bread for?
It is food for larvae and young worker bees.
What does bee bread taste like?
FAO describes the taste as characteristically sour.
Is it true that bee bread cures illnesses?
No such claim is made here: the sources describe only its role as bee food, its composition and taste.
What to read next
- Sądecki Bartnik Bee-complex — Honey blend with bee products from Sądecki Bartnik: bee pollen 5%, bee bread 5%, propolis extract 1%, royal jelly 1%.
- Sądecki Bartnik Pierzga surowiec — Raw bee bread with no additives from Sądecki Bartnik: bee bread 100%.
- Medozbir Perha — Raw bee bread with no additives from Medozbir: bee bread 100%.
Similar
Propolis · Beeswax candles · Royal jelly · Bee pollen · Beeswax
Sources
- FAO, Krell R. (1996) Value-added products from beekeeping, Chapter 3 Pollen
- FAO, Krell R. (1996) Value-added products from beekeeping, Chapter 2 Honey