Bee products
Today, the following apiarian products are regarded as foodstuffs:
Honig
Pollen
The bees gather pollen for their nourishment from different plants and carry it as “pollen load” into the hive. Pollen is the main protein source for the honeybees.
Beeswax
Firts of all beeswax is the cradle of the bee colony. But its also the bees house and the packaging material for stored feed and food all at the same time. It is used by man for many different purposes: medicine, cosmetics and various consumer goods.
Bee products used in cosmetics and therapeutics are as follows:
Propolis
Bees collect resin from the bark and buds of certain trees and process it into propolis. They use it to seal their beehive against draughts, covering all surfaces with propolis to limit the proliferation of micro-organisms.
Gelée royale
Royal jelly is the food, produced by bees for raising their queen, and not their king, as suggested by the poet! It is produced by special management of the bee colonies. In one bee season a royal jelly beekeeper can produce about 500 g of this precious jelly. In Switzerland no royal jelly is produced for commercial purposes.
Bee venom / Allergy
The bee sting, with its bee venom, causes pain, but has many biological and beneficial effects.