the brownpropolisis collectedusing grids that are put in between superhives, indeed bees havea tendency tofillthe grid holeswith propolis. The grid are installed during springtimeandremoved in the beginning ofautumn.
Brown Propolis has the appearance of small sticky pieces of resin from a few mm to several cm, subsequently agglomerated in more or less rigid blocks. Brown propolis have…
green propolis is produced by cutting a long and thin opening at the bottom of superhives wall (about 40x3cm). Africanized bees are very active and will focus on filling these big holes with green propolis based on a resin collected on wild rosemary's bud (Baccharis dracunculifolia), which is endemic in several regions of Brazil.
Green propolis has the appearance of small…
it is the flowering plant male germ cell or male gamete. The bees collect the pollen tiny pollen grains on the flowers etamines and mix them with salivary secretions and flower nectar, and carry them to the beehive thanks to the “baskets” on their hind legs. These pollen granules are practically imperishables and are stocked in the beehive as a source of well-balanced protein, fat…
this is a whitish substance with a pearly sheen, gelatinous consistency and an acid and sweet flavor. It is produced by the 5 to 15 days old worker bees and is the queen bee only food during her entire lifetime. Royal jelly helps the queen bee to grow 50% bigger than the worker bees, to lay up to 2000 eggs a day and live up to 5 years, when the worker bees only receive royal jelly during their…
Aloe vera is an aloe specy grown since ancient times in the Mediterranean region and North Africa. Aloe vera has been adopted in the traditional medicines of many hot regions of the world, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa first, then India, China and Asia mainly after Xth century. Aloe vera is a succulent plant (it stores water in its leaves) that grows on arid soils in colonies…
acai is a slender palm tree which can grow up to 20 meters, it grows only in South America, in the tropics, mostly swamp. The Açai berries grow in clusters at the base of the palms, they are dark red to purple, and are 1 to 2 cm in diameter. The volume of the seed is about 80% of the fruit. The pulp contains an exceptional proportion of vegetable fats (about 55%). The Açai berry…
Acerola is a shrub that grows in South America and the Caribbean tropics. The fruit, also called Barbados cherry for its resemblance to the cherry, is edible and sour, it is considered a "superfruit" as it is one of the richest fruit in vitamin C with the Camu-Camu (Myrciaria dubia).
camu-camu is a shrub native of the Peruvian rainforest, of the same family as guava. The fruit is edible and commonly used in Peruvian cuisine. It is 2 to 4 cm in diameter, has an orange-red color and a sour taste, it is considered a "superfruit" as it is one of the richest in vitamin C fruit with Acerola (Malpighia emarginata, Malpighia glabra).
Uncaria tomentosa, called "Peruvian liane", is a vine native of the Amazonia. It is called in Spanish "Uña de gato" (cat's claw) because of small stipules claw at the base of its leaves. The plant grows on trees 20 to 40 feet high. It is a medicinal herb : bark, leaves and roots are traditionally used to treat different diseases.
Guarana is a shrub native of the Brazilian Amazonia. Guarana is now grown in the states of Amazonas, Mato Grosso and Bahia. The seed contains a high concentration of caffeine that makes Guarana the known plant containing the highest levels of caffeine in the world. Traditionally the seed is consumed by tribes of Amazonian Indians for its stimulant properties, as a powder diluted in water, the…
Pouteria lucuma is a tree native to the Peruvian Andes. Lucuma is popular in desserts, particularly in the form of ice or cake.
mate or yerba mate is a South American native species whose leaves, which are roasted and pulverized, provide, infused in hot water, a stimulating drink, similar to the coffee or tea effects. The Jesuits developed its culture in the seventeenth century and spread to neighboring countries : Uruguay, Chile, Bolivia, Argentina and the southern provinces of Brazil. Mate word used in…
Noni is a tropical shrub native of India, and now widely cultivated in tropical regions over the world. Its fruits have the size of an apple with a battered shape, its color is green and yellow, and turn whitish when ripe, they have a peculiar odor and bitter taste. The tree and its fruit are used as a medicinal plant in traditional Polynesian culture. The oldest reference comes from Indian…
annatto is a tree native of tropical South American regions. It is also called urucum in Brazil and achiote in Spanish speaking countries. It is also grown in southern Asia. Its fruits are red and prickly, mature they open and leave theire red seeds appear. The fruits are harvested and dried to extract the wax that surrounds the seeds, very rich in carotenoids. The Indians of South America and…
Stevia is a sweetener and sugar substitute extracted from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana, a plant that has been used for more than 1,500 years by the Guaraní peoples of South America. The leaves have been traditionally used for hundreds of years in both Brazil and Paraguay to sweeten local teas and medicines.
The legal status of stevia extracts as food additives and…
Sea Buckthorn is a thorny shrub, native to Europe and the mountainous regions of Eurasia. In Asia, sea buckthorn is widely found in China, it is also in the regions of the Himalayas, in Russia and Mongolia. It is cultivated for its fruit and to prevent soil erosion. Its fruit has an acid and astringent flavor, it is edible and consumed in jam, compote or sorbet. By…
mosqueta rose hip grows wild in the foothills of the Andes in Chile and Argentina, where it has almost become invasive. The flowers are white or pink, and fruit or berries resemble European rose hip. By cold pressing of the seeds is obtained an orange oil with characteristic green odor.
Sacha Inchi is a plant of the Peruvian Amazonia, Incas and earlier civilizations cultivated it for food and medicine, as evidenced by archaeological excavations of pre-Columbian graves.
Sacha Inchi plant reaches a height of about 2m, the fruits are capsules of 3 to 5 cm in diameter with 4 to 7 lobes, they become dark brown at maturity. Seeds have a nice flavor once roasted. By cold…