
And it was good. The beeman explained that he used a device to collect pollen off the back legs of worker bees as they flew into the nest. It was "like a strip of Velcro" that lined the bottom of the entrance. As the bees flew it, the powdery pollen stuck to the "Velcro," allowing him to collect it later on. Originally, the pollen was saved as emergency rations to give the hive if they had an unseasonably cold spring and couldn't feed themselves. But then bee pollen developed its own market, appealing to both earthy, holistic herbalists and pill-popping supplement takers.
I bought a jar and was hooked. It became a staple for topping walnut porridge, yogurt, and occasional medallions of goat cheese. It might sound cliched to say it tastes floral, but considering how close the senses of taste and smell are, its not that far off as a description. Bee pollen has a dry, chalky texture, but that quickly melts into a creamy, sweet paste. Bees' roll the pollen into a ball with the help of nectar and honey, which helps accent both the sweetness and the floral flavor.
My Dad recently tried bee pollen from a local vendor, who offered him a minuscule sample with the warning that some people have an allergic reaction to it. That's because many bee's source pollen from ragweed, which about 5% of the population is allergic to. I like using bee pollen as a cool "finishing touch," especially as its an unusual product, but very easy for guests to enjoy. The one downside is that bee pollen rapidly liquefies in the presence of water, so as soon as you sprinkle it on ice cream or yogurt, you've only got about 1-2 minutes before it turns into little golden pools of liquid flowers. The good news is that it lasts for 1-2 years frozen.
4 comments :
It is really best to source your bee pollen for the local as some international may not be 100% all natural.
Very good point, Madza. I've read that honey (and pollen) is best for allergies if it comes within 25-30 miles of your house. Luckily we have a bee keeper only 4 blocks over. Do you find the bee pollen supplements your website mentions are better than raw pollen?
Do you know the name of the local bee keeper? I live in the hudson valley and I'm looking for bee pollen.
Here's my email: elenasniezek@gmail.com
Hi Elena,
I'm sorry I don't remember the name of the Hudson Valley bee keeper. This was years ago and I never kept the bottle when I moved to PA. Sorry about that! Cornell's cooperative extension may have some listings.
Nick
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