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When to Harvest Bee Bread from the Hive
Important: Please use only wooden frames with wax foundation. Our processing equipment cannot extract bee bread from plastic frames.
Bee bread matures at least one month after bees pack fresh pollen into the comb cells. For this reason, the best time to harvest it is in the second half of summer, when the fermentation process is complete and the product is well developed.
It is also considered good practice to remove bee bread before wintering. This helps reduce brood production during the colder months — an important part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy. Lower brood levels in winter can contribute to better colony health and improved varroa control.
Drying Off the Honey
Honey is often present on bee bread frames — either around the edges or on top of the bee bread cells. This honey must be removed before the frames can be processed.
There are two main options:
- You can extract the honey and then let bees to clean up any remaining traces.
- Or simply uncap the frames and let the bees do the drying work.
We recommend extracting the honey first. It often contains a high concentration of dissolved bee bread, giving it exceptional nutritional value, a pleasant acidity, and a unique flavour reminiscent of dried fruits.
Don’t miss out on this treat — it’s one of the tastiest honeys you’ll harvest!
Cutting and Packing Bee Bread
Once the frame has been cleaned of honey, the next step is to remove the bee bread. This can be done using an ordinary kitchen knife — simply cut the comb along the wire lines to create manageable chunks.
Pack the bee bread chunks in food-grade plastic bags or containers, then either post them to us or deliver by prior arrangement.
Please note: raw bee bread combs do not store well at room temperature. Due to high humidity, there is a risk of mould growth or infestation by wax moth larvae.
🧊 Freezing is the best option.
Storing bee bread in a freezer helps preserve its quality and allows you to accumulate a larger quantity before sending.
📄 Beekeeper Declaration Required
Please also complete the Beekeeper Declaration Form and send it to us either:
- digitally via email, or
- as a printed copy included with your shipment.
This declaration confirms that your bee bread was harvested from a healthy colony, free from AFB and fungal diseases, and that the product has not been in contact with soil and synthetic treatment
What Happens Next?
Once we receive your bee bread, we open a ticket under your name and begin processing.
Your bee bread then goes through extraction, sublimation, polishing, and grading — and is transformed into Ambrozea:
the essence of New Zealand’s one-of-a-kind blooming flora, captured in every granule.
After processing, we weigh the final product and calculate your payment accordingly.
💡 You can estimate the final weight yourself:
Raw bee bread typically loses 30–40% of its weight during drying and refinement, depending on its original moisture content.