How bees make propolis: what it looks like and smells like real, the process of obtaining
Most people know about the healing properties of propolis. It has long been used in folk medicine in the form of tinctures, ointments. But not everyone knows how it is obtained and how to choose a quality product. Let's see what the substance looks like, how exactly the bees make propolis, why it differs in color. We learn about the signs of a quality product and the symptoms that indicate its corruption.
What real propolis looks like
Propolis is produced by bees by adding their own enzymes to the collected tree bud resin. A bee colony can produce 100-160 grams of product per year. This substance with a complex organic composition is used by insects to seal gaps and disinfect the hive.
The composition contains a large number of resins, essential oils, balms and wax. The product has a disinfecting effect, strengthens the immune system, accelerates wound healing. The substance is recognized as a natural antibiotic.
Distinguish between soft and hard varieties of matter. Soft propolis is better, it contains less wax, the substance hardens over time. Propolis is a viscous or solid mass, with increasing temperature it acquires plasticity, it is easily kneaded by hands. It crumbles at temperatures below +15 °C. Freezing makes the substance brittle.
Liquid or soft propolis is found on the frames near the cells or between the frames. The hard variety (lower quality) is found at the bottom of the hives. The color of the product varies from yellow and greenish to greenish brown. Too dark (almost black) shade indicates the low quality of the substance. When choosing a product, it is taken into account that high-quality propolis is homogeneous on the cut and sinks in water.The substance will float if there is a large amount of wax in the composition.
Product smell
Fresh propolis has a pungent smell, consisting of notes of honey, aroma of resins, essential oils and wax. There is a slight hint of vanillin. The product is stored tightly closed, otherwise the aroma decreases over time, but does not disappear. The smell may vary slightly, depending on the quality of the substance and the resins of which plants the bees used. When set on fire, the substance smells like incense.
Propolis flavor
The substance is endowed with a pleasant taste with bitterness. When chewed, the substance becomes viscous and sticks to the teeth. After chewing the product, there is a burning sensation and slight numbness in the mouth, on the tip of the tongue, in the tonsils.Systematic chewing of propolis for 5-10 minutes will protect the throat from inflammation and teeth from caries. If you chew the product for 25-30 minutes, a strong bitterness appears, the product begins to crumble, then it can be swallowed with a small amount of liquid.
How the bees make it
The composition is designed to protect the hive. A viscous substance is used for sealing cracks, notch, gluing frames. The resins and esters that make up the substance have bactericidal properties. Insects use propolis to disinfect the home.
A special detachment of insects is allocated for collection. The resin is taken from the sticky buds of poplar, birch, alder, ash. Coniferous trees are also a source of resin for bees.
The insect grabs the resin with its jaws and, adding its own enzymes, pulls it into a thread. After the thread breaks, the bee forms a ball and places it in the pollen baskets located on the hind legs.Arriving in the hive, the insect is released from the resin load with the help of the other inhabitants of the hive. In the process of interaction with the resin, wax, pollen, and the secret of the glands of bees are added to it. So, striped workers get a valuable product.
Important: scientists have not been able to recreate propolis in artificial conditions.
The shade of the substance obtained after bee processing depends on the type of plant from which the resin was obtained. Propolis does not dissolve in water, with strong heating a small part (about 10-13%) of the substance passes into the solution. Alcohols, ethers, acetone and other organic compounds completely dissolve the substance. Alcohol tinctures and ointments are used to treat various diseases:
- as a prophylactic during cold season;
- in the treatment of tonsillitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis;
- for diseases of the oral cavity.
The product is dangerous for people allergic to bee products, plant pollen.
Signs of spoilage of propolis
The substance should not be purchased if the product is too dark in color, heterogeneous on the cut. Remains brittle at high room temperatures (from +23 °C). Floats in water, does not have a pronounced odor. If traces of mold are visible on the cut.
Bees are amazing creatures. Insects are able to create several products at once, each of which people need. For centuries, they have provided us not only with a delicacy, but also with effective natural medicines. Propolis is one of the whole complex of such substances.
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