Bee Pollen In Tea – Is This Really A Good Idea?
Lots of people swear by the benefits of green tea and also when bee pollen in tea is added. They are convinced that it is full of nutrients and it can do them nothing but good. They are in for a shock when they realize that there are not only doubts about the so called antioxidant properties of green tea but also on the provenance of the bee pollen in tea.
Why checking the provenance of bee pollen is recommended
That is a shock because actually the pollen used in this mixture, while it sounds great might actually be from an area which is highly industrialized or subject to the effects of intensive farming. That usually means that it is at risk from:-
- pesticides
- insecticides
- industrial pollutants
- GM microbes
Recommendations for preparing fresh bee pollen
There are some interesting recipes in Marie Nadine Antol’s book called ‘Healing Teas’. The point I am making is that it really depends a lot on WHERE you get your bee pollen from and how to prepare it. There are however some relevant points in the book and the taste of bee pollen is described as ‘tart, sweet and pungent’. Lots of people expect that it would taste rather like honey. They get quite a shock.
I know many people who actually use fresh bee pollen in tea and they start by grinding the granules to a fine powder and then adding it to tea, cereals or yogurt. This makes it very pleasant to eat or drink although you would have to use only the amount you need at the time.
Fresh Bee Pollen Granules
If you want to buy fresh bee pollen granules, you have to make sure that it has actually been freeze dried and then you should keep it in the fridge to really get the best out of it.
If the pollen is not kept properly, the following problems could occur :-
- oxidation
- fermentation
- bacterial contamination
- light and moisture have deleterious effects on the nutrients
- growth of fungi
The bee pollen has to be dried in the most efficient way possible and the best way is to flash dry or freeze dry it as confirmed by the tests done on bee pollen in Brazil which were conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply. Heat dried bee pollen is not recommended.
After buying it, it should be refrigerated for the best storage possible so that none of the above problems will occur. The Ministry in Brazil did discover that the maximum storage time would be about six months in the fridge so that the preservation of all the enzymes, amino acids, minerals and vitamins were not compromised in any way.
If the idea of bee pollen in tea does not appeal to you, why not find out how bee pollen capsules are manufactured to the highest possible standards by visiting one of the world’s most prestigious suppliers of it, in an area which is still unpolluted.
