Beebread

What is beebread?

Beebread is a mixture of pollen, honey, and enzymes, stored by the bees in the combs. They add wax and seal the comb cells. This mixture undergoes a lactic acid fermentation, which is very similar to that in yogurt and other fermented milk products, and after almost 3 months, it becomes what we call beebread. This fermentation assures the preservation of the product and enriches it in nutrients.

Beebread combs will often be sold as a whole. For that purpose, a bee queen separator is placed between brood and honey combs during a period of a maximum pollen gathering activity.
When the combs are full, the pollen is harvested by means of a scraper and filled into a jar.

From all the products of the hive, beebread is the less explored bee product.

Composition:

Because it comes from pollen, honey and bee saliva, its composition resembles that of bee pollen, only 3 times higher in its nutritional and antimicrobial value!

beebread better than pollenIts composition is higher in:
· simple sugars,
· vitamins (A, B, C, E and K),
· enzymes,
· minerals: sodium, potassium, phosphor, zinc, magnesium, calcium, iron, selenium,
· amino acids (high content of lactic acid). Amino acid concentrations are at higher levels in beebread than in flower pollen. (according to a 2015 study which analyzed the beebread aminoacids composition in beebread made by European honey bees and Africanized honey bees.)
· phenolic compounds such as flavonol derivatives: mainly quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin, isorhamnetin and herbacetrin glycoside derivatives. The highest content of flavonoids is up to 6802 µg/g extract. (according to a study from 2017, on beebread from Apis mellifera iberiensis, in Portugal).
· moisture content: 11.4 – 15.9%,
· ash content: 1.9 – 2.54%,
· acidity: high – which makes it easily absorbed,
· proteins: 14.8 – 24.3%. (lower than in pollen)
· fats: 5.9 – 11.5%.
· 37 fatty acids were determined in a study, with most abundant being (9Z,12Z,15Z)-octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic, (9Z,12Z)- -octadeca-9,12-dienoic, hexadecanoic, (Z)-octadec-9-enoic, (Z)-icos-11-enoic and octadecanoic acids. Cotton bee bread contains the highest level of ω-3 FAs, i.e. 41.3%. (As it was shown in a 2016 study by Kaplan M et al., Turkey, which was done on eight bee bread samples of different botanical origins.)
The unsaturated-to saturated fatty acid ratio ranged between 1.38 and 2.39, indicating that bee bread can be a good source of unsaturated fatty acids.

Another study from 2016, conducted by Čeksterytė V et al. from Lithuania and the Netherlands, analysed the amounts of fatty acids from 2 samples of beebread and bee pollen produced from clover (Trifolium pratense L). The results showed a content of 35 fatty acids in beebread and 42 in bee pollen.
A high amount of the healthy n-3 fatty acids was found.
The ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids n-3 to n-6 reached a value of 8.42 and 3.35 in the latter products.

Bee bread can be a good source of unsaturated fatty acids.

Compared to frozen pollen or dried pollen, and due to the fermentation process, beebread has almost an unlimited guarantee.

Therapeutic benefits:

Beebread is highly recommended to people suffering from illnesses of digestive and hepatic systems. It helps the liver to function well and detoxifies the body. It lowers the level of cholesterol, and it is recommended for atherosclerosis. It is also very efficient in urinary disorders and prostate issues.

Allergy: 

While allergy to bee pollen is frequent, allergy to beebread is very rare.

Dosage:

adults: 1 teaspoon daily (3 g)

Read more on What is the difference between beebread, aka bee bread, and bee pollen?

Home made beebread:

The natural fermentation process the bees do, can be copied by our technological means, and made with dried or frozen pollen. For those interested in making this type of fermented beebread at home, here is the whole process, as described by KRELL, R (1996) “Value-added products from beekeeping”. FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Roma; 409 pp

Containers and conditions during the fermentation process:

* The container: Wide-mouthed bottles or jars with airtight lids are absolutely essential. Airtight stainless steel or glazed clay pots can also be used. Containers should always be large enough to leave enough airspace (20 to 25 % of the total volume) above the culture.

* The temperature: The temperature for the first two to three days should be between 28 and 320C; the bees maintain a temperature of approximately 34°C. After the first two or three days the temperature should be lowered to 20°C.

The high initial temperature is important to stop the growth of undesirable bacteria as quickly as possible. At this ideal temperature, all bacteria grow fast, so an excess of gas and acid accumulates. Only lactic acid producing bacteria (lactobacilli) and some yeasts continue to grow. The former will soon dominate the whole culture.

This final growth of lactobacilli should proceed slowly, hence the reduction in temperature after 2-3 days.

* The starter culture: It is best to start the culture with an inoculation of the right bacteria, such as Lactobacillus xylosus or lactobacilli
contained in whey. Freeze-dried bacteria are best if they can be purchased, but otherwise, the best cultures are those that can be obtained from dairies. Whey itself can be used. If the whey is derived from unprocessed fresh milk it should be boiled before use. A culture can also be started with natural beebread.

Preservation: Fermentation produces a pleasant degree of acidity (ideally pH 3.6-3.8). Some pollen species may promote excessive yeast growth but this does not spoil the beebread. If the flavor is strange or some other mildew-like or unpleasant odors arise from the beebread, discard it and try again. The final product, can be stored for years, once unsealed, it can be dried and thus is storable for many more months.

General conditions:
For successful fermentation, exact quantities are less important than the correct conditions:
– the pollen to be fermented needs to be maintained under pressure
– the air space above the food needs to be sufficient (20-25 % of total volume)
– the container needs to be airtight
– the temperature should not drop below 18°C

Ingredients (in parts by weight):
10 Pollen;
1.5 Honey;
2.5 Clean water
0.02 Whey or very small quantity of dried lactic acid bacteria.

How it’s done:
Clean and slightly dry the fresh pollen. If dried pollen is used, an extra 0.5 parts of water is added and the final mix is soaked for a couple of hours before placing it in the fermentation vessels. If the mixture is too dry, a little more honey-water solution can be added.

Heat the water, stir in the honey and boil for at least 5 minutes. Do not allow the mix to boil over. Let the mix cool.
When the temperature is approximately 30-32 0C, stir in the whey or starter culture and add the pollen. Press into the fermentation container.

When preparing large quantities in large containers, the pollen mass should be weighted down with a couple of weights (clean stones) on a very clean board.
Close the container well and place in a warm place (30-32 0C).

After 2-3 days, remove to a cool area (preferably at 200C).
8 to 12 days later the fermentation will have passed its peak and the beebread should be ready. The lower the temperature, the slower the progress of fermentation.
Leave the jars sealed for storage.

Where can we find bee bread?

At your local beekeepers, of course. If they don’t have any, then try
• Amazon.com. Here is what I’ve found there: Bee Bread.Bienenbrot.Pane d’api.Naturally Fermented Pollen.Perga. 1Pound/454g ( (Usually takes less than a 10 days to arrive in the US. Priority Tracked shipping).
It has many stars and on their page you can find lots of information regarding the year of harvest, storage conditions, supplement facts and usage recommendations.
If you have ever tried making it, please tell us.