How to Make Bee Pollen Tea (Simple Recipe)
Bee pollen tea is a powerhouse of nutrition and very easy to make. Here’s a simple recipe.
What is Bee Pollen?
Pollen is produced by flowers and they use it to fertilize other flowers in their species. If you rub a dandelion gently across your palm, you will see a light dusting of yellow pollen left behind.
Honey bees collect pollen from flowers, then they pack it into little balls and stick it to the back of their legs. These are called “Pollen pants”. The worker bees return to the hive, where they store the pollen in cells. The pollen is then eaten by the bees and fed to the baby bees. It is their primary source of protein and a vital source of nutrients for bees.
It takes bees hundreds of trips to flowers to collect even a small amount of pollen. Because pollen is so important to bees and takes a huge amount of effort to gather, it isn’t something we should be consuming in large amounts.
How is Bee Pollen Collected
Beekeepers can put pollen traps on their hives. When the bees enter the hive, they have to move through a mesh screen with fairly wide gaps. The gaps allow the bees to crawl through, but the pollen is gently scraped from their legs. The pollen packs fall into a collection tray where beekeepers can gather it for use.
Pollen traps are not kept on a hive for very long, as again it is vitally important the bees keep the majority of their pollen to feed themselves and the baby bees.
What Are the Health Benefits of Bee Pollen?
Quick disclaimer, this is informational only and should not be considered medical advice. Please check out my full disclosures here.
Bee pollen is considered a complete protein and is a highly concentrated form of many nutrients. It has high levels of at least 27 different minerals, enzymes, and amino acids. Bee Pollen is an excellent source of B vitamins, niacin, folic acid, and vitamins b and c.
It can be a great way to combat allergies and boost your immune system by adding a half or a teaspoon of bee pollen to your daily routine.
Cautions When Eating Bee Pollen
Allergic reactions to bee pollen can happen, especially if you have seasonal allergies or sensitivities to plants and flowers in general. It is a good idea to consult with your doctor before trying bee pollen, especially if you have any allergy concerns.
The first time you try a bee pollen supplement, try just a few grains of it and watch for any negative side effects. The next day try a slightly larger helping, say a quarter teaspoon, and see how things go.
In addition to allergic reactions, if you are on blood thinners, bee pollen can increase their effectiveness. This means it can reduce your blood’s ability to clot.
What Does Bee Pollen Taste Like?
I’d describe bee pollen as lightly floral. The taste is pretty subtle, but it can vary depending on what kind of flowers the pollen was collected from. Each individual grain of pollen in a jar will have various colors, again to match the types of flowers and plants it was gathered from.
How to Eat Bee Pollen
Bee pollen should be eaten raw and should not be heated. Some of the best ways to eat it are sprinkled on yogurt or stirred into a spoonful of honey. I personally like to make toast, add a spread of cream cheese, then drizzle with a generous spoonful of honey, then sprinkle of bee pollen on top. It’s almost like a little birthday cake.
Bee Pollen Tea Recipe
Because you aren’t supposed to heat bee pollen, you will have to drink the pollen in room temperature or iced tea.
My personal favorite is to brew a cup of Country Peach passion tea, or other fruit forward tea. I find the floral taste of the pollen blends nicely with the peach. Orange would be another good choice.
Heat a kettle or pot of water to just below boiling point. Add one bag of your tea of choice to a mason jar or mug. Pour one cup of the heated water over the tea bag. Cover, and allow to steep for 4-6 minutes.
Remove the tea bag, then stir in 1-2 Tbsp of honey, depending on how sweet you like your tea.
Chill the tea in your fridge for 1-2 hours or allow to come to room temperature on your countertop.
Stir in 1/2-1 tsp of bee pollen until it dissolves.
Drink the tea at room temperature, or pour the mixture over ice and enjoy.
