The Process

The process of collecting and making bee pollen involves the intricate activities of honeybees within a hive. Here's a more detailed look at the steps involved:

Collection of Pollen
Honeybees are the primary collectors of pollen. Foragers, which are worker bees, visit flowers in search of nectar and pollen. When a honeybee visits a flower, pollen from the male part of the flower (the stamen) sticks to the fine hairs on the bee's body. The bee uses its legs to brush the pollen from its body into specialized structures called pollen baskets or corbiculae located on its hind legs.

Mixing with Nectar and Enzymes
As the forager bee collects pollen, it also gathers nectar from flowers. The bee combines the collected pollen with the nectar and secretes enzymes into the mixture. This process transforms the raw pollen into small granules or pellets.

Storage in Honeycomb Cells
Back at the hive, the forager bee deposits the pollen pellets into cells within the honeycomb. These cells are typically located near the outer edges of the comb and are surrounded by honey. The addition of honey helps preserve the pollen and create a stable environment within the hive.

Fermentation and Processing
Once stored in the honeycomb cells, the pollen undergoes a fermentation process. This fermentation is facilitated by the enzymes introduced by the bees. The transformation is thought to enhance the bioavailability of nutrients in the pollen.

Harvesting by Beekeepers
Beekeepers can harvest bee pollen by collecting the pollen-filled cells from the honeycomb. Specialized traps or collectors are often placed at the hive entrance, allowing bees to enter with their pollen baskets, but scraping off the pollen as they pass through. Beekeepers then collect and store the harvested bee pollen.

Cleaning and Drying
After harvesting, the bee pollen is cleaned to remove impurities such as bee parts, debris, and excess propolis (a resinous substance produced by bees). The cleaned bee pollen is then dried to reduce moisture content and preserve its quality.

It's worth noting that the composition of bee pollen can vary depending on the types of plants visited by the bees. As a result, bee pollen harvested from different regions or floral sources may have distinct nutritional profiles. Additionally, the collection and processing methods can influence the quality of the bee pollen, so it's essential to source it from reputable beekeepers and producers, like Helio Hives.

Our Pollen is sourced from Western Australia, which boasts a thriving and robust population of European honey bees (Apis mellifera), earning recognition for their exceptional health. The country's diverse flora and fauna, cherished by Australians, create an environment that is equally beloved by honey bees. With a landscape that supports a vibrant ecosystem, Western Australia proudly stands out as home to one of the world's healthiest populations of European honey bees.

For more information on Western Australian Pollen, click on the link.