Royal jelly is one of the most talked-about products of the hive, often surrounded by exaggerated claims about eternal youth or miracle cures. It deserves a closer look, because what it really is is fascinating enough on its own.
Royal jelly is produced by young worker bees through their pharyngeal glands. During the roughly ten days when they act as nurses, these young bees feed:
– Worker larvae: 2 days of royal jelly, then 3 days of a pollen/honey/water mixture
– Queen larvae: 5 days of royal jelly
– The queen: royal jelly her whole life
The effect on the queen is striking: fed exclusively on royal jelly, she can live four to five years, compared to an average six weeks for a worker bee. In just six days, a queen larva multiplies its birth weight by about 1300. It’s easy to see why this “royal” food has long fascinated researchers and the public alike.
Royal jelly is a yellowish, slightly gelatinous paste with a distinctive smell. Its composition is not yet fully understood, but it contains approximately:
– Water: 65-70%
– Carbohydrates: about 14%, mainly simple sugars
– Proteins: about 13%, largely amino acids
– Lipids: about 4%
– B-group vitamins
– Minerals and trace elements: calcium, copper, iron, sulfur, silicon, potassium, phosphorus
About 3% of royal jelly’s components remain unidentified.
Where does it come from?
While the hive is generous with honey and pollen, it is far less so with royal jelly — which partly explains its high price. Beekeepers harvest it using a technique called “queen rearing”: young larvae are grafted into artificial queen cells, which the worker bees then feed abundantly with royal jelly. A few days later, the beekeeper removes the frame and collects the jelly, roughly 250 milligrams per cell — a delicate operation usually carried out by experienced professional beekeepers.
Because it degrades quickly, royal jelly must be kept refrigerated (5°C maximum) to preserve its properties. It is sold fresh in small jars, or freeze-dried in capsule form.
Royal jelly and health
Royal jelly has been studied for its nutritional richness, and some researchers have looked into its biological effects since the mid-20th century. That said, its therapeutic properties have not been sufficiently confirmed or regulated by health authorities to support specific health claims: we do not present it as a treatment for any condition. Before considering a course of royal jelly, especially at a significant dose, it is recommended to seek medical advice — some people are sensitive or allergic to hive products, and royal jelly is no exception.
No miracle, then, but a genuinely fascinating food, with a history well worth knowing.
Read also our special pages on bee venom and propolis. The world of bees never ceases to amaze us.
excerpts from La Santé par le miel by Jean-François Chèzeries (LDP)
