Bee products are not only honey, wax and propolis. Bee pollen is also collected and used in folk medicine as a tonic. When properly prepared, the product can be stored for a long time without losing its unique properties. A description of how to collect and store bee pollen at home will be useful for beginners and experienced beekeepers.
Why do you need to store pollen?
The product is obtained by insects to feed all the inhabitants of the hive. Bees store pollen in baskets on their hind legs. Therefore, its second name is pollen.Bee pollen has a complex composition, containing trace elements, vitamins, protein, and lipid complexes.
Depending on the plant from which it was collected, it may have a greenish, reddish or yellow tint. Mixing with enzymes secreted by insects during the process of collection and transfer, pollen acquires unique properties.
The substance could not be obtained in laboratory conditions. The beneficial properties of pollen depend on what plants it was collected from, how it was dried and under what conditions it was stored. The footstool is used:
- to strengthen the immune system;
- prevention during cold season;
- during menopause, as a source of estrogen;
- to improve kidney and gastrointestinal function;
- as a natural antioxidant;
- used for sore throat;
- for problems with the prostate gland.
Course use saturates the body with energy and has a general strengthening effect. Due to the large amount of protein, it is used in dietary nutrition. Adults take a teaspoon 2 times a day; children only need 1 dose. The substance has tonic properties, the last dose is no later than 18-19 hours.
Important: pollen should not be given to children under 3 years of age, people who have a tendency to allergic reactions to flowering plants or bee products, those who are prone to weight gain, or those with diabetes.
Pollen traps are not installed during nectar collection. They are also not used in cloudy, humid weather. The tray with pollen is emptied daily; the pollen can become damp overnight.
Preparation for storage
The substance contains up to 30% moisture; for long-term storage it must be dried. The product is placed in a shaded, dry place with good ventilation. You can place it on paper, special pallets made of wood or plastic. The layer of pollen should not exceed 1.5-2 centimeters.
The pollen is stirred periodically to ensure even drying. It is not dried in the sun; ultraviolet rays deprive the product of its beneficial properties. At a temperature of +20-25 degrees, the pollen requires 3 days to dry completely.
It is acceptable to use devices for drying berries, mushrooms and dried fruits. Dry at temperatures up to +40 °C. When poured, the finished product makes a characteristic metallic sound. Dried pollen is sifted through a sieve (no metal is used), removing impurities (contaminated debris, insects).
Industrial drying of the product is carried out in vacuum drying cabinets equipped with ventilation, where a given temperature is maintained. In this case, the drying process takes no more than 2 hours.
Rules and optimal conditions
Flower pollen is stored in sealed plastic bags, sterilized glass jars, under metal or vacuum lids. The main thing is not to freeze the product and make sure that no moisture gets into it. When frozen, pollen loses its beneficial properties. Humidity causes the product to clump and mold. If stored improperly, all vitamins and microelements in bee pollen granules decompose and the healing effect disappears.
Expiration dates
The optimal shelf life is one year from the date of preparation. After this period, the product loses up to 40% of its nutrients. Can be used for 2 years if storage conditions are met. The product is kept in a dark, cool place (can be on the shelves of the refrigerator), at a temperature no higher than + 12-15 ° C.
How to extend shelf life
An effective storage method is to pour fresh honey over the dried pollen. The pollen in granules is placed in a glass jar, filled with liquid product 1:1, or 2 parts of honey are taken. The container is hermetically sealed. This improves the taste of the product and allows you to preserve it without loss of quality for 1.5-2 years.
Another way to keep pollen is to sprinkle the granules with powdered sugar. Granulated sugar is not used for this purpose; it increases the moisture content of the product and does not preserve it.
Bee pollen differs from flower pollen in composition. It can strengthen the walls of blood vessels and protect against colds in the off-season. The fresher the product, the more value it has for the consumer.
