Quick Answer: How Does Bee Pollen Taste Like?
Bee pollen has a slightly sweet and floral taste. But many say that bee pollen has a bitter aftertaste. The taste, however, of bee pollen can vary, depending on a few things- like the type of flower that is currently blooming, where it is grown, or how fresh it was harvested. There are also different varieties, some being more sweet and flavorsome than others.
This is a detailed guide on what to expect when you taste bee pollen.
Let us get started!
What Is Bee Pollen?
A natural, healthy food, bee pollen is made from flower pollen, bee secretions, nectar, enzymes, honey, and wax. For centuries, bee pollen has been used for its nutritional properties. It comes from male flowers.
The color of bee pollen depends on the flower it is harvested from. It is golden yellow if gathered near clover; deep red-browns around raspberries, etc.
Bees extract the pollen and store it in their honey stomachs until they return to the hive. Once back at the hive, pollen is mixed with honey before regurgitating into cells.
There it is dehydrated and turns into bee pollen.
Bumblebees and honeybees are the most common sources of bee pollen, which gather nectar from flowering plants like sunflower, apples, clover, and alfalfa.
What Does Bee Pollen Taste Like?
Although the bee pollen tastes sweet and floral, its flavor profile can vary. One bee pollen granule can be made of pollen from dozens of flowers. Each flower has a distinct color, taste, and nutrition. And so, the pollen of flowers varies drastically.
This pollen variation in each granule of bee pollen gives it a unique flavor. Bee pollen has a slightly honey-like taste. It has a waxy texture, kind of like honeycomb.
No two granules of fresh bee pollen are precisely similar. Still, they can take on identical flavor profiles from the same region. for instance, the “Fluffy Fresh” California bee pollen tastes mild, earthy, and soft sweetness.
Pollen can have a bitter flavor depending on the season.
What Does Bee Pollen Powder Taste Like?
Bee pollen powder is made up of ground-up bee pollen granules hence the taste is the same. Some bee pollen has a nut-like taste that is slightly sweet, and other times, it can be bitter; hence the powder also tastes like that.
The taste can vary slightly depending on the pollen sources present around the hive.
How To Use Bee Pollen
- You can eat bee pollen directly, or you can mix them into your oatmeal or yogurt.
- You can even make smoothies with bee pollen.
- You can add bee pollen to other sweet snacks as a healthier replacement that provides sugar.
Watch the recipe –
- You can also take bee pollen in the form of a capsule. You can take these capsules with meals or in between.
Bee Bread Is The Same As Bee Pollen?
No, it is not. Bee pollen undergoes a fermentation process, which results in the formation of bee bread. Pollen is taken from flowers to meet the nutritional requirements of bees, as it is the only source of protein they have.
It should, however, be treated before being fed to the entire hive, especially to bee larvae, who cannot digest pollen without it.
As a result, bees stack pollen in honeycomb cells. Then use bee wax and honey to seal and preserve the pollen.
After that, pollen is fermented for a long time, usually with Lactobacillus species.
That is where bee bread comes from. It’s essentially bee pollen fermented naturally after spending some time within the nest.
How To Make Bee Pollen Tea?
Ingredients: For an 8 oz cup of tea.
- 1/4 tablespoon of local bee pollen
- One tablespoon of raw honey
- One tablespoon of turmeric
- One tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice
How to make it: Pour water into a cup or mug. Turmeric and bee pollen is known for sinking to the bottom of the cup, so give the water a nice stir with a spoon.
Fill the water into your cup or mug. Because turmeric and bee pollen like to sink to the bottom of the cup, give it a good stir with a spoon.
Add your excess elements of honey and lemon to give your tea some truly necessary pleasantness.
How Long Does Bee Pollen Last?
The cold will preserve it much longer. In the refrigerator, bee pollen will last up to 1 year. You can store it in the freezer, maintaining its quality for up to 2 years.
Once Fresh Bee Pollen is out of the fridge or freezer, it only lasts a few days before it starts to decline in quality.
So as soon as you purchase Fresh Bee Pollen, make sure to pop it in the fridge right away.
In The End
I hope this quick taste guide helped you understand the taste of bee pollen better.
Share this with your friends and family and help them know about it too!