Bee bread harvesting guide

When to remove the honeycombs?

A. In May – June: When the brood combs are full of bee bread and there is no space left for the brood, remove a few such combs and replace them with wax foundations. The bees will build new combs, the queen will lay eggs, the bees will stay busy and remain in the hive, while the beekeeper gains a valuable product.

B. When preparing the bees for wintering: Remove a few combs with bee bread, but 1-2 such combs must remain in the hive.

Bee bread harvesting process

1. Extract the honey and return the honeycombs to the bees for drying. The honeycombs must be completely free of honey.

2. Cut out the part of the honeycomb containing bee bread from the frame. It’s best to break the honeycomb along the wires.

3. Freeze the raw material at -18 to -20°C.

4. Take the frozen raw material out of the freezer and place it into the feeder of the harvester.

5. Due to being frozen, the wax becomes brittle, so it comes out of the harvester in a form of flour. Bee bread comes out frozen solid.

6. If a separator isn’t used, after grinding a small amount of raw material, the wax flour can be sifted manually, and the bee bread transferred to a separate container.

7. When using a separator, the wax flour falls through the grates into a separate box, while the bee bread is collected in the sieve.

How to store bee bread?

A. Keep the bee bread frozen.

B. Partially dry it and mix it with honey.

C. Fully dry it until it reaches the hardness of a nut kernel.

Drying tips

• Bee bread should be dried at a temperature no higher than 40°C. Overheated bee bread becomes bitter and is no longer suitable for consumption.

• If the drying equipment isn’t powerful enough, cold bee bread warms up too slowly, allowing bacteria to multiply, causing the product to turn black and become unsuitable for consumption.

• Properly dried bee bread can be stored for up to 2 years without degrading in quality. It must be protected from moisture and direct sunlight.

How to consume bee bread?

Consume up to one heaping tablespoon in the first half of the day after meals, with plenty of water, tea, or juice. You can start with smaller amounts, too. If the taste is unpleasant or you don’t enjoy it, it’s recommended to take a break for a few weeks.