Striped worker at work

Most people believe that bees are excellent suppliers of honey. Many of them do not even realize, especially those who live in cities, that in addition to this valuable product, friendly striped workers produce from natural materials many other substances beneficial to human health. Among them are:

as well as many other useful products, the regular use of which has helped both adults and children.

As we see, beekeeping is a fairly rich industry in medicinal substances. Among the bee products listed above, pollen plays a very important role. While there is some information about bee substances from meadow grasses, weeds, and sunflowers, products from birch, pine and other trees are used less frequently and have been less studied. Although traditional healers use birch or pine pollen in medicinal purposes several thousand years, and its use has benefited thousands of people.

Among the many similar substances, pine pollen is probably not known to everyone. But in vain, since its usefulness for the human body is extraordinary. The reason for such unrivaled treatment assistance various diseases- simple: composition and origin, which are interrelated.

Like any other pollen, the pine “version” of the substance is intended for one purpose: to fertilize female reproductive cells. She contains 27 different minerals. Moreover, she contains enzymes, vitamins, amino acids, microelements that mean a lot to full functioning human body. Scientists have not yet been able to create it artificially.

Pharmacists in many countries use the substance as a valuable storehouse of vitamins. On its basis, Swedish scientists, for example, created the healing drug “Cernilto”. Doctors of traditional and alternative medicine use the product to treat:

diseases associated with the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
pulmonary tuberculosis;
prostatitis, prostate adenoma;
oncological diseases;
respiratory diseases;
diabetes mellitus;
diseases associated with the nervous system;
cardiovascular diseases, since when it is consumed, blood vessels become more elastic, blood microcirculation in the heart and brain improves. The presence of flavonoids contributes to a significant reduction in lipids and cholesterol. Therefore, it treats hypertension very well.

Pollen is pollen grains that are collected by striped workers on cross-pollinating plants. Sometimes beekeepers also call it pollen or bee bread.

Flying from plant to plant, striped workers put the product in special “bags” on their legs, and then bring them to the hive. In order to select this valuable product, beekeepers use pollen traps. Their device eliminates the possibility of a bee passing through if it has pollen on it. Therefore, she must throw off most of the bee bread and only after that go to her house. At the bottom of the pollen catcher there is a small mesh box where the pollen lumps fall.

In one arrival, a bee can bring about 25-35 mg of product, and over the course of a whole season, about 6-8 kg of substance can be taken from a bee colony without causing the slightest harm to the bees. It is clear that for such work the beekeeper chooses the strongest families.

The selected pollen must first be dried. It is not recommended to dry it in the sun, as this may cause it to lose parts. useful microelements. Therefore, it is best to place it in warm, windless weather in the shade. Of course, now there are all sorts of devices and devices for dehydrating products. But these devices are not suitable for such a very delicate and unusual substance.

Drying should take place naturally, which will ensure complete preservation of all healthy ingredients. By the way, the concentration of these micro- and macroelements in any pollen is quite high. It should be noted that when vegetables and fruits are dehydrated, about 10-11% by weight remains in dried form. After carrying out the same process with pollen, approximately 94-95% of this product remains. Comments are unnecessary.

Many people do not know how to store bee pollen at home and constantly ask about this to those who have or have dealt with storing the product. So, you need to remember about the high hygroscopicity of the product. Therefore, after drying, it is recommended to store it in well-ventilated, dry, dark places with a temperature not exceeding 40°C.

In addition, the most optimal conditions for storing this healing product at home are a half-liter glass jar filled with pollen and filled with liquid. fresh honey. Why pour the substance? But the point is that this stops the flow of air and the shelf life of such a canned product is calculated in years. Sometimes the product is overfilled powdered sugar, which is also sufficient effective way storage It is recommended to mix preservative and pollen in a 1:1 ratio. It is not recommended to freeze the bee product, as this may lead to the loss of some of the valuable ingredients of the substance.

Storage conditions and shelf life of bee pollen

The healing properties of bee pollen are much higher than those of honey. Due to the fact that bees treat it with their own enzymes during collection, it is the least allergenic of all beekeeping products. But useful qualities pollen can be quickly lost. Amino acids and vitamins are lost especially quickly. This is due to the fact that after collection in pollen long time keep happening bio chemical processes, as a result of which they are lost useful material. In order for this product to remain medicinal for a long time, it must be properly prepared and stored.

Bee pollen is collected using pollen traps. It is necessary to remove the product from pollen collectors before evening. Leaving pollen overnight can cause dampness.

The composition of pollen consists largely of water. To preserve its beneficial qualities during storage, it must be thoroughly dried. Usually beekeepers use drying cabinets. In the future, the shelf life of the pollen will directly depend on the temperature conditions set in the cabinet.

If drying is carried out in a special room, then the following conditions must be met:

darkness;
ventilation;
humidity not higher than 10%;
temperature within 20-40 °C.

The collected pollen is scattered on sheets. The layer thickness is about 1 cm. Drying takes three days. It must be stirred periodically.

Dried pollen, ready for storage, has certain properties:

It becomes like lumps that are difficult to crush.

When poured onto plywood from a height of 20 cm, it produces a sound similar to a light metallic ringing.

After this, you need to clean the pollen from the debris.

There are more quick way drying the pollen. To do this, use a vacuum in which the product is dried for 2 hours at a temperature of 120 °C.

Pollen. Storage

To ensure that the useful bee product has a shelf life as long as possible, dried pollen must be preserved immediately. It is best to use a pre-sterilized jar, closing it with a seaming machine.

At home, you can use another sealed container, for example, a jar with a ground-in lid or a bag. It is important that insects do not get inside. For the same purpose, you should not store the pollen in a warm and humid place. For creating optimal conditions The following storage rules must be observed:

Under such conditions, pollen can be stored for two years. Nai best place storage is in a dark, dry basement.

But it should be remembered that even if all storage conditions are met, healing properties pollen decreases over time. Thus, it is recommended to use pollen stored at home as a medicine only for 1.5 years. When purchasing it at a pharmacy, you need to check the date of manufacture. If you notice that the expiration date is ending, it is better not to buy this product.

Flower pollen in a jar

At home, you can extend the shelf life of pollen by using a natural preservative.

Mix with honey in a 1:1 ratio. The result is an excellent remedy used for colds and viral diseases. Honey can not only extend shelf life, but also improve taste qualities product.
Mix with powdered sugar in a ratio of 1:2. The powder adsorbs moisture, extending shelf life, and also removes the bitterness inherent in bee pollen.

Preserved pollen can be stored for up to 5 years. But we must understand that healing qualities will still be lost. After six months of storage, about 25% will be lost. useful properties, and after a year – already about 40%.

Properly collected, stored and stored bee pollen is an excellent preventive and therapeutic agent.

Extending the shelf life of bee pollen and its storage conditions

To increase the shelf life of flower pollen and preserve it medicinal properties, it must be kept under strictly defined conditions. Over time, the benefits of the product are lost due to the biochemical processes occurring in it. There is a special harvesting and storage technology that allows you to preserve the healing qualities and extend the shelf life of flower pollen, even with the highest quality processing and maintenance.

How to prepare pollen for storage at home

To save the pollen on for a long time It is important to collect and dry it correctly. Collecting is done using pollen collectors. The product must be removed during the day, otherwise it may become damp at night. Moisture from pollen must be removed to avoid the appearance of harmful microorganisms and insects in it.

Drying must be carried out in compliance with certain rules:

temperature from 20 to 40 °C;
humidity no more than 10%;
darkness;
good ventilation.

At home, drying should be done on parchment sheets. The pollen is laid out on them in a layer of no more than 1 cm. It is necessary to constantly mix the pollen - at least once a day or more often. Typically the process takes about three days. After drying, the pollen is cleaned of impurities using a sieve with cells no larger than 2 mm. For better effect You can use a fan or hair dryer.

Pollen prepared for storage is collected in dense lumps that do not wrinkle when pressed. If you sprinkle it from a 20-centimeter height, the sound when falling will be metallic.

In industry, drying cabinets are used, which speed up the procedure to one day. Inside are created the necessary conditions, and also adds exposure to air flow. Stirring is not necessary with this method.

For long-term preservation of qualities, it is important to know how to store bee pollen correctly. The pollen, which has undergone the necessary preparation, can be kept in glass jars or plastic bags. The container must be sterile. The product is poured into the jars up to the neck, leaving as little air as possible. After this, close tightly with ground-in or screw-on lids. It is important to prevent moisture from getting on the pollen and to ensure complete tightness.

There is no need to compact the pollen, as this can lead to its spoilage. It is unacceptable for insects to get into containers when canning. If used tin lids, their inner surface must be lubricated with wax, since contact with metal causes unwanted chemical processes. After preservation, bee pollen is ready for storage. The necessary conditions:

temperature from 0 to 14 °C, optimally 9 °C;
lack of sunlight and other light;
low humidity.

Thus, the best place to store canned pollen is in the refrigerator or dry basement. Freezing is unacceptable, since during crystallization everything useful elements are destroyed. You should also not store the product in a warm place with high humidity.

How long pollen can be stored depends on its purpose. Hermetically packaged, subject to all necessary storage rules, it retains its beneficial properties for up to one and a half years. Up to 2 years of age, it is permissible to eat pollen. However, for medicinal purposes it must be used as early as possible. During the first year, the concentration of nutrients decreases by almost half. If the pollen has expired or was not stored correctly, product consumption:

V best case scenario will not bring any benefit;
in the worst case, it can cause poisoning or disruption of the gastrointestinal tract.

The use of any expired product entails serious consequences for the body. And pollen is no exception. A healthy product enriched with vitamins can turn into poison. The health of people who eat it depends on how pollen is stored.

If there is a need to leave pollen for a longer period, you can mix it with other products:

Honey is also useful for the prevention and treatment of many diseases, as well as maintaining immunity. If pollen is mixed with it, observing the proportions of 1:1, the shelf life of bee pollen in this case will be about 5 years. Honey is an excellent preservative and will help the pollen preserve its properties a little longer. This mixture is good remedy from viral and infectious colds.
Bee pollen can last longer when mixed with powdered sugar. The substance helps absorb moisture and reduces the feeling of bitterness. Sand and refined sugar are not suitable in this case, since they will not interact with pollen. For one part of pollen you need 2 parts of powdered sugar.

It must be remembered that, even if pollen is stored in such ways, its beneficial qualities fade over time. Even if the product is edible for a long period, healing effect will last for a maximum of the first two years. However, the taste will not be lost; the above compounds can be consumed as a treat until the expiration date.

Bee pollen is a very valuable product due to its content of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. It is widely used in medicine, as well as as a prophylactic agent. It has a beneficial effect on cardiovascular system, improves blood circulation, enhances the effect in the treatment of the liver and pancreas. All these qualities do not last long.

If maintained incorrectly, all substances of value are destroyed very quickly. To obtain the effect, storage must be carried out in compliance with all rules, and the use of an expired product is strictly not recommended.

If you have additional information We ask you to leave comments on how else you can extend the shelf life of bee pollen. We are interested in your experience in this area.

Bee pollen is known to many beekeepers as a unique and healing product. Recently, this beekeeping product has become firmly established in medical circles. After many studies, it was found that pollen actually has a composition that can help heal great amount various ailments.

Bee pollen is not only used to kill ailments, it is also excellent for culinary arts, as well as in cosmetology. But it is always important to remember that any product will be especially beneficial for health if all necessary and important rules and storage conditions. The shelf life of bee pollen also depends on what will be provided to the human body: benefit or harm.

You can buy bee pollen in Ukraine at our apiary by ordering it by phone

How long does bee pollen last?

Before properly storing a product, it must be subjected to the necessary quality harvesting. The bee product consists largely of water, and in order for its beneficial qualities and properties to last as long as possible, excess water must be dried. For this purpose, specialized drying cabinets are used. The shelf life of bee pollen will directly depend on the temperature conditions in the drying cabinet. For this purpose, special technical documentation has been developed.

Experts in their field pour the product into a container, put the necessary temperature regime, maintain a certain amount of time for drying. And only after that it turns out unique product, saving human health. Accordingly, a properly prepared product will be stored much longer.

How long does bee pollen last? If all the conditions described above are met, plus the product is stored in a glass or food-grade plastic container with a tightly sealed lid, then the aging period will be 2 years. Of course, during this time all enzymes, minerals, active substances and vitamins will be in the right amount.

But it is important to remember what longer product exposed to storage, the less useful it becomes for the body. Therefore, if bee pollen is used to treat any serious disease, it can be used for about one and a half years.

The shelf life of pollen also depends on whether it contains any harmful insects. A sweet dish attracts many pests, and if the container with the medicine is kept open, then it is likely that various microorganisms will grow in it, which will harm human health. It is strictly forbidden to keep this natural medicine in a warm and unventilated area..

You can buy bee pollen in Ukraine at our apiary by ordering it by phone
+38-096-83-44-687, 099-058-51-35

Most best option content active substance- dry and darkened basement. It maintains the temperature that is desirable for most medicinal substances. Lack of illumination also does its useful job - that’s all active ingredients do not interact, and when consumed have a maximum impact on a person.

Properly maintained pollen storage period is a quality medicine and excellent remedy for preventive purposes.

on Feb 25, 2018 608 Views

How nice it is to watch the picture: working bees fly from flower to flower and buzz sweetly. And if you think about it, you understand that this is a most valuable and labor-intensive process. The bees grab flower pollen on their paws and carry it to their home, where they prepare milk from it - the diet of the larvae and the queen. Let's talk about bee pollen, its beneficial properties and contraindications.

Flower and bee pollen are different concepts. Even in biology lessons, we were told that pollen is produced from the anthers of plants. We need another type of such a wonderful gift of nature. Bee pollen is a variety of nuggets that have been processed by the enzymes of buzzing workers. Carries such pollen beautiful name- pollen.

Collecting and storing pollen is a complex and time-consuming process. A worker bee makes about 10 flights a day. During one such flight, she can bring about 20 mg of pollen. Experienced beekeepers have developed unique technologies for collecting this valuable gift of nature. So, they set traps - obstacles where the bees lose part of their prey.

It should be noted how significant, important and necessary bee pollen is for the growth and development of the inhabitants of the hive. How does this complex chain happen? Bee pollen - most important product nutrition for the entire family, which confidently occupies the highest level of the pedestal in terms of importance. This invaluable vital component can increase the mass of the larva hundreds of times in just a couple of days. Thanks to this food raw material, the wings of growing bees straighten and become stronger, and all the working glands are formed.

An important and interesting fact is that bee pollen is a product for the production of royal jelly. But this delicacy is necessary for the queen of the uterus. This is a clear picture of how useful and significant pollen is for the growth and development of such huge bee offspring: for little larvae, nurse bees, and builders.

So, we figured out that bee pollen is an amazing gift of nature that is simply necessary for humans. The benefits of this product are invaluable for pregnant women, nursing mothers, growing children, athletes and men who continue the family line.

Praise and glory to the gifts of the sun and flowers!

Bee pollen is far ahead of honey in terms of the content of nutrients and beneficial substances. Just think how rich its composition is! Let's look at it:

About 500 microelements needed by our body are contained in these pollen grains.
It also contains no less than 28 elements of the famous periodic table. Bee pollen is especially rich in iron, potassium and calcium, as well as phosphorus, chromium, and sodium.
It contains almost all the amino acids needed human body, as well as vitamins of different groups - C, D, A, B, E.

And what beneficial effect What effect does bee pollen have on the human body? These include:

Boosting immunity.
Antibacterial action. Pollen is simply a fighter against germs and bacteria.
Strengthening the walls of blood vessels.
Increase in hemoglobin.
Recovery after physical activity, diseases. Improving athletic performance.
Obnozhka is an antidepressant. Stress and inflammation have become pollen's worst enemy due to high content it contains vitamin C.
Improving the functioning of the digestive system.
Normalization of the activity of the endocrine system.
Stimulates brain activity, increases concentration, mental clarity and memory.
Maintaining cardiac activity.
Being a stimulant, bee pollen increases libido and sexual arousal.

Experts say that healing pollen is an excellent source of protein. So, 20 g of pollen is equivalent to 1 kilogram of meat. Bee pollen is a natural gift that cannot be duplicated in composition or created chemically. It is considered the record holder for the content of provitamin A, and there is much more carotene in pollen than in carrots.

As diverse as our flower world is, bee pollen varies in appearance and color. Just as each flower is valuable in its own way, pollen has a particularly beneficial effect on a certain area of the body. This is confirmed by numerous reviews of bee pollen:

Pollen collected from sage is an assistant for the functioning of the intestines and all digestive organs.
The lemon-yellow cover of rapeseed is valued by nutritionists in the treatment of ulcers.
Thyme pollen grains are the best antiseptic.
The gifts of linden are soothing, and buckwheat helps in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
Pine pollen will be useful for men. This pollen is a medicine given by nature and helps solve problems with impotence and reduced sperm activity.
For pregnant women, bee pollen will help compensate for the lack of folic acid, which is necessary for the full formation and development of the baby in the womb.

Having understood the beneficial properties of bee pollen, let's look at how to properly take this valuable product. Let us immediately pay attention to several warnings: we approach all recommendations wisely, without fanaticism or abuse. We definitely consult with experts.

Post - best time consumption of pollen. Classic scheme is this:

Pollen intake is introduced gradually, starting from 1 g of product per day and increasing to the prescribed dose.
For the treatment and prevention of diseases, it is recommended to take 2 teaspoons of pollen per day.
It is advisable to distribute daily dose for 2-3 doses.
Keep the grains in your mouth until completely dissolved. Only then will the flower gift bring the proper benefit to every cell.
Take the cover 30 minutes before meals. The indicated dose is sufficient for treatment and recovery.
The course of taking the natural drug is 3 weeks, then we take a break for at least a month.

Only a doctor can prescribe the correct dose depending on the weight and individual characteristics of the body.

Who is harmed by bee pollen?

A wonderful pollen, unfortunately, can also cause harm. It has its own contraindications for use. So, it should not be taken by people who suffer from individual intolerance. Often a person is allergic directly to the pollen of a particular plant. People with a medical history of blood sugar problems are also not recommended to take pollen and honey. Unreasonable consumption of pollen leads to vitamin deficiency.

What is the shelf life of bee pollen? Pollen should be stored in a dark place for up to 2 years. But we must understand that its beneficial properties decrease over time. Optimal temperature storage - up to 20°, and humidity - no more than 75%.

Eating bee pollen will bring a feeling of spring and joy into our lives. This gift from bees provides the body with the substances necessary for health and beauty. By using pollen, we regain the health lost over the years of life and simply become younger before our eyes.

I took a course for the treatment of chronic prostatitis. I did as recommended at the “Veselyi Shershen” apiary - 2 courses with a break. In the first month of taking it, I felt some changes in the prostate, but the inflammation did not completely go away. After taking the second course, I began to feel much better. It's been 8 months now that I haven't had any problems with my prostate. I am very grateful to you for your products and for the advice provided.

Ignatenko Vladislav

Artemovsk

Thank you Dmitry and Olga for your products, and especially for the eye drops. I have been suffering from glaucoma for many years. The disease is progressing, but thanks to your drops I feel that the progress has decreased and I can see a little better. It’s a pity that they don’t cure this disease, but that’s a big thank you.

Larisa Ivanovna

For a long time I was looking for suppositories for hemorrhoids on a natural basis, since in the pharmacy very often the suppositories include some kind of chemical preparation. I saw that at the family apiary Vesely Hornet the composition included only cocoa butter and propolis. I was very happy and ordered it immediately. I was pleased with the candles - the problem was not completely solved, but the progress was significant.

Raisa Pavlovna

I have been switching to natural cosmetics for many years now. I do some of it myself, getting information on the Internet, and I buy some of it. But I am simply delighted with your nourishing cream. I use it constantly on both my face and hands. And now our family has the same honey soap all the time. We wouldn't exchange it for a supermarket.

Hook Valentina

Zaporozhye

Thank you very much, Olga, for recommending a delicious product – wax moth infusion. My child (a girl of 7 years) was constantly ill with inflammation of the bronchi and we often spent many hours in medicine, in which they did not give anything other than antibiotics. I started looking for folk ways to treat bronchitis and found you. My child began to feel less sick and to cope with illness more easily. Also apply this kind of bee bread for immunity.

Kanonenko Olga

He suffered a serious crisis and suffered a stroke. My daughter found information that wax moth helps with this problem for recovery. Having called, we received advice that it is better to take a course of wax moth with tincture of deadwood. And so they did. I've been taking it for 4 months now. Changes on the face. But for complete recovery I want to take it for another 2-3 months. Thank you and your bees for the good products.

Ivan Fedotovich

Dnepropetrovsk

As a nursing mother, while feeding her child, a problem with lactation appeared at 6 months. I read that Apilak based on royal jelly helps very well, but pure royal jelly has an even stronger effect. We ordered from a family apiary this product. And after 4 days of taking it, milk resumed in the required volume, and after 2 weeks of taking it I had to express the excess. I really liked your product. Now I’m thinking about a course to boost immunity. Thanks for the help.

Marina

Vasilyevka

Many thanks to the bees and the Happy Hornet. I've been sick for many years diabetes mellitus. Apart from medications and special nutrition, nothing helps in life. But I’m an optimist and I’m still trying to lead a healthy lifestyle. When buying acacia honey from Dmitry, he advised me to purchase a tincture of dead bees to lower sugar. I bought it with little confidence. And she didn’t do it in vain. After 1 month, sugar began to rise less frequently (more often it was her own fault, since she did not follow the diet). I've been drinking for 3 months now. I feel much better. Some kind of efficiency even appeared. Dmitry, thank you so much.

Lakuta Valentina

Dmitro, thank you very much for the delicious dormouse honey and for the weeding honey. We lived from afar and throughout the winter our entire great homeland was not ill. Only a little onuk. For the coming season, I will definitely start again from afar.

Dashko Ivan

I have been suffering from sinusitis for many years. As soon as he got through, he became a regular “client” of the hospital. While ordering honey at the “Veselyi Shershen” apiary, I saw Stop Sinusitis ointment and decided to try it, since the price was quite affordable. And after 2 weeks of use I saw improvements. I began to feel better with my chronic advanced sinusitis. I recommend.

Pakhomov Sergey

He underwent treatment at the family apiary “Vesely Hornet” for the treatment of prostate adenoma. There was severe inflammation from hypothermia and the prostate became very inflamed. And the doctors diagnosed an enlarged adenoma. After 2 weeks of taking the course, I felt that the inflammation had partially gone away. And after 2 months of taking it, the inflammation disappeared. The adenoma did not decrease after an ultrasound scan at the end of the course, but no increase was observed either. Thank you for the advice and help provided. I plan to take another course in the near future.

Igor Marchuk

After a year of treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis and drug resistance in the hospital, the doctor himself recommended trying wax moth tincture. I searched the Internet for a long time and settled on the family apiary “Vesely Hornet”, where I received a full consultation and, after receiving the products, were given instructions for use. I was also interested in the treatment regimen for wax moth tuberculosis with propolis tincture, since I had never heard of this anywhere else. After only 3 months of treatment, the disease progressed to closed form and by the 7th month the holes also disappeared. Now, being already healthy, I drink it prophylactically 3-4 times a year. Thanks for the second life.

Vladimir

My son has been suffering from psoriasis for many years and we have probably already tried half a pharmacy of drugs for this disease. Almost all of them either have no effect or cause allergies. I read that propolis ointment helps a lot. Having received advice from Olga that 40% propolis ointment copes well with this disease, we ordered it and were very pleased. Now we are only saved by her. And the most important thing is whether there is an effect or not. side effects of this product.

Kramarenko Irina

Dneprorudny

I constantly work outside and in the garden. Hands often become chapped. I tried using Kremlin ointment as a cream. And I really like it. Now I periodically order this ointment from Olga.

Zhanna Ignatievna

Bee pollen contains more quantity necessary substances and essential microelements. In terms of usefulness, it surpasses even honey. It is this property that makes it in demand in the treatment and prevention of many diseases.

Correct usage flower “powder” helps improve vision, restore strength and immunity, as well as stabilize the psycho-emotional state. Systematic use helps improve the general condition of the body and strengthen the immune system.

However, it has one “unpleasant” feature: even proper storage will not prevent the loss of beneficial properties. This especially applies to the vitamins and amino acids contained in it. This is explained by the fact that even after collection, biochemical processes in bee pollen continue, which leads to a decrease in nutritional properties.

Summer and spring are the best times to collect pollen. The easiest way to collect is using special device– pollen catcher. It is most cost-effective to collect it daily, and not just during honey collection. This increases the payback of apiaries to 130% or more. It is necessary to select it every day before dark, as it can become damp at night.

Freshly picked flower “powder” contains a large percentage of moisture, about 20–30%. This leads to the formation of mold and bacteria. Therefore, any beekeeper should know how to properly dry and store bee pollen at home.

First, it must be scattered onto paper in a layer not exceeding 1 cm and dried at 40 degrees in a well-ventilated place, avoiding direct contact with sun rays. It will take 3 days to dry completely. If the temperature is at least 10 degrees higher than permissible, this leads to the destruction of enzymes, vitamins and some hormones. During the drying process, bee pollen must be stirred periodically. The humidity of the room in which the drying process takes place should not exceed 10%.

To simplify the drying process, special drying cabinets can be used. In this case, bee pollen is poured into the tray in a layer of 1–1.5 cm. The temperature in the cabinet should not exceed 40 degrees.

You can also use vacuum drying at 120 degrees. This process will take only 2 hours. The advantage of this method is the elimination of beebread moth while maintaining the beneficial properties of the product.

You can determine its readiness in the following ways:

To the touch it resembles separate dense lumps that cannot be crushed.
If it is poured onto the surface from a height of 20–25 cm, the sound will resemble a metallic ringing.

Flower pollen contains debris of various origins. For this reason, it is cleaned properly. The easiest way to do this is with a fan or hair dryer. The second way to remove impurities is to sift it through a sieve with a mesh diameter of 2 mm.

Storage conditions

In addition to drying, attention should be paid to storing pollen, because its shelf life depends on this. If not properly maintained, it can absorb moisture from the air due to its high hygroscopicity. For this reason, flower “powder” should be stored in airtight packaging. A plastic container or a tightly sealed jar works well for this.

To extend its shelf life, it is recommended to mix it with honey or powdered sugar, as they have absorbent properties. You can mix pollen in a ratio of 1:1 or 1:2. This effective method will allow you to preserve the flower “powder” longer and improve its taste. Thanks to the addition of honey, its bitterness is not felt so much and its beneficial properties are enhanced, which benefit the human body.

An important nuance when storing flower “powder” at home is temperature balance. If you store pollen in a warm place, with high level humidity, this will lead to the appearance of insects in it. The storage room must be dry and clean, without any foreign odors. Otherwise, it will absorb odors.

Shelf life

Properly dried pollen can be stored for no longer than a year. After this time, it loses its beneficial and valuable properties. Mixed with honey has more long term storage - up to 5 years. But even under such conditions, it will gradually lose its healing properties. After 6 months, it will lose 20–25% useful features. In a year, this value will increase to 40–45%, and after a couple of years, all useful substances will be lost.

To the collection and storage of such valuable and useful product, like flower pollen, needs to be taken seriously. One slight mistake and all the work and time spent will go down the drain. If it is not dried properly or storage conditions are not observed, it will lose its healing properties or insects will appear in it. But with proper care valuable qualities persist for a long period of time.