Pollen is the fertilizing dust produced by flowers, which bees gather and carry back to the hive, packed into small balls on their hind legs. As they forage, bees carry out a large part of the pollination of flowering plants — an essential role that goes well beyond honey production.
To feed their larvae, bees need protein, which nectar does not provide. That’s where pollen comes in: mixed with a little honey, it becomes “bee bread”, essential for raising the brood.
The harvest
Beekeepers collect part of the pollen using a pollen trap placed at the entrance of the hive: a grid the foraging bees must pass through, which knocks off some of the pollen balls attached to their legs into a collecting drawer. The trap is set to remove only 5 to 10% of the harvest, so the colony’s own supply isn’t affected. On average, about 3 kg of pollen is collected per hive per year.
Fresh pollen contains about 15% water, so it must be dried quickly (down to 4-5% moisture) or frozen, otherwise it will mold or ferment. Once dried and cleaned of impurities, it is stored away from heat and humidity.
Pollen, a mark of honey quality
Pure honey always contains some pollen, and its microscopic analysis (melissopalynology) can reveal the honey’s geographic and botanical origin. This method is used to check that a honey labelled “acacia” or “lavender” actually contains enough pollen from that flower to earn its name, and to help detect fraud. Pollen analysis is therefore one of the best guarantees of a honey’s quality for the consumer.
Composition
There is an enormous variety of pollens, each with its own characteristics depending on the flowers foraged. Broadly speaking, though, pollen’s average composition is:
– Protein: 20 to 35%, rich in amino acids
– Carbohydrates: about 35%
– Lipids: about 5%
– Vitamins: A, D, E, C and the B-group vitamins
– Minerals and trace elements (about 3%): calcium, phosphorus, sulfur, manganese, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium
Pollen and health
Thanks to its richness in amino acids, vitamins and minerals, pollen is sometimes presented as an interesting food supplement. That said, its properties have not been sufficiently confirmed or regulated by health authorities to support specific health claims, so we do not present it as a treatment for any condition. As with any hive product, it’s advisable to seek medical advice before starting a course of pollen, particularly if you are on other medication, pregnant, or considering it for young children.
One point that’s often misunderstood: pollen gathered by bees from flowers (entomophilous pollen) is not the cause of seasonal allergies. Wind-borne pollens (grasses, birch, ragweed…), known as anemophilous, are responsible for hay fever. People with pollen or hive-product allergies should nonetheless remain cautious and seek medical advice before consuming it.
Not a miracle food, then, but a genuinely fascinating product, a reflection of the bees’ meticulous work.
Read also our special pages on bee venom, royal jelly and propolis. The world of bees never ceases to amaze us.
excerpts from La Santé par le miel by Jean-François Chèzeries (LDP)
