BEE BREAD

Maiden wax or “The Bread of Bees” may be the most valuable product of the beehive.

Bees bring pollen into the beehive, store it in the cells, press it with their little head, mix it with little honey and enzymes and other nourishing substances in the salivary glands used as a binder for the grains of pollen, then they put a protective layer of honey above. Here, under the influence of the substances added by bees, of microorganisms, of the temperature and high humidity in the beehive, pollen passes through a series of biochemical transformations and structural modifications, turning into maiden wax after a period of natural effervescence.

Collecting maiden wax from the beehive by the beekeeper is meticulous and moreover, it has a very low efficiency, the quantities which can be extracted without affecting the food of bees are reduced.

When buying this product, one has in mind the fact that turning pollen into maiden wax should be complete, a fact proved by the hexagonal shape of pieces of maiden wax (given by the cells in the honeycomb).

However, for those who want to consume Bee Bread or those who were recommended the consumption of maiden wax after a medical consultation, they have to take into account the fact that the maiden wax taken out of the honeycomb comes into contact with the air and there take place reactions of its degradation, moreover it requires high costs because of the labour. That is why I recommend the consumtion of maiden wax directly with honeycomb (as honey is consumed in the honeycomb). The honeycomb which contains maiden wax is cut into small shapes as cookies and is consumed together with the honeycomb. If, wax is separated in the mouth, then one can eat peanuts, nuts, almonds, sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds and the wax melts and is swallowed.
PhD Engineer: Cornelia Dostetan (Abalaru)