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The richest food known to humans, the only one on earth that contains the 20 amino acids from which the proteins of life are built, and indispensable for the survival of the hive. Without pollen, no proteins; without proteins, no wax; without wax, no hive! Young and worker bees alike need energy, provided by nectar, and proteins, vitamins, lipids, and other nutrients, which they find in pollen.
The pollen that bees collect and enrich with enzymes is “entomophilous” pollen (transported and transformed by bees). It is distinctly different from allergy-causing pollen emitted by grasses and trees, which is transported on the wind. Rare allergic reactions to bee pollen have been reported after oral consumption of pollen.
Pollen is a fine powder produced by flowers. It is the male fertilizing element of the flower and an essential source of proteins, vitamins... for the bee. When bees return to the hive with pollen, it is clearly visible as multicolored pellets attached to their legs. The pollen of different flowers or trees have slightly different looks, tastes, and compositions. The choice of pollen that bees forage on is mainly dependent on the needs of the colony and the choices offered by the environment. Chestnut trees produce green pollen, rockrose pollen is bright orange, poppy gives it in deep black shades... Identifying pollen type needs to be performed under a microscope however, as many plants can produce similar colors. Climatic conditions and the age of the flower visited can also modify the color of the pollen. Polyfloral Pollen is composed of a variety of pollen types, and it shows in its harlequin mixture.
We harvest our pollen, like all of our bee products, with great consciousness and consideration for bees thanks to our strict GENTLE Beekeeping® criteria.
Different bees from the same hive forage different species of flowers. The flowers that bees choose mainly depends on the needs of the colony and, of course, the choices offered by the environment.
The selection of monofloral pollens comes from what nature offers bees at a particular place and time. Collected during specific and precise flowering periods ensures a high percentage of pollen from a single plant.