Propolis

[reinbeau]

My son wants to try to use propolis in making some kind of energy bars.  I've told him how sticky it is to deal with.  My question is how would you handle propolis to eat?  I'm thinking it has to be dried and crushed - does that sound like it will work?  I think heat of any kind would ruin some of the properties.  Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[bassman1977]

I've seen it in pill form.  Not sure how it is made.  Check out Draper's Apiary you'll find propolis stuff under the honey bee products link.

I've tasted it once.  It was scrapings from one of my hives.  It tasted like dookie....to put it mildly.   :-X

[pdmattox]

here is a site.  http://www.beehivebotanicals.com/

[Angi_H]

From the propolis Cindi sent me I made a tincure. With using white Tequilla and then strainged it  several times through 2 layers of coffee filters. And then bottled it in little brown bottles with dropper tops. I was able to make 3/4 quart.

Angi

Make sure you heat it up to get the wax out of it. Otherwise it will be really waxy. You can dry it in a dehydrator and then run it through a grinder or food processor.

[Angi_H]

You can also after you get the wax out place it in the freezer and then run it through a food mill or a coffee bean grinder.

Angi

[reinbeau]

Thanx for all of the suggestions!  Angi, I have a food dehydrator, that may be the ticket.  My son has big ideas of coming up with a propolis-infused energy bar.  We'll see what he comes up with once the hives can be opened and some propolis harvested.

[NWIN Beekeeper]

Propolis is a composition largely of saps and tars of various trees, bushes, etc.
Most tars and saps are oil and alcohol based.  I'm not very sure about how well you will dry propolis in a dehydrator. In fact, you would be slightly heating it which I would think would make it tacky.
My best results in handling proplis has been frozen. 

I would try to draw off the wax first and then work with a frozen product to pulverize it (I like the coffee bean grinder idea (might make your cup of Joe a little stickier :shock:).  By first heating it remove the wax, you also blend the varieties of proplis too (better consistancy). I wouldn't get carried away with the heat, it really doesn't take much to turn it into varnish. :-P  And too much heat will give you a nice fire too. :evil:

Really however, propolis isn't really an energy product. It is more of an pro-botic. 
So it may not help you bike that last mile, but it could help you keep from catching a bug biking in the rain. I can contest that its great for dental infections.

A friend in Maine has derived his own formula to wear as perfume as he works his hives.
Claims he never gets stung (or maybe just stung less...)
Crazy fool, I think the bees just think he smells like a 'tree' and 'leaves him alone'. (Bad Bad Bad Pun.)

-Jeff

[reinbeau]

Thanx, Jeff, that helps even more.  He's interested in the health aspect of the propolis, maybe I should have called it a health bar rather than an energy bar. 

My coffee grinder is never used for coffee, no one here drinks it.  I grind herbs, flax seed, etc. in it.  I'll see about getting another one for his experiments.  I'll let you all know what develops.

[Cindi]

Ann, freeezing definitely, and maybe use a mortar and pestle?  Before it thaws....have a wonderful, beautiful day.  Cindi

[Bennettoid]

  It tasted like dookie....to put it mildly.   :-X

What the heck is dookie?

[reinbeau]

I know what a dookie is, now what I really want to know is why do you know what a dookie tastes like?  :shock: :? :evil:

[Jerrymac]

  It tasted like dookie....to put it mildly.   :-X

What the heck is dookie?

A dookie is another name for those strange droppings that come from the back side of mammals.  :shock:

[Michael Bush]

If you freeze it and run it through a blender it turns to powder.

[bassman1977]

I know what a dookie is, now what I really want to know is why do you know what a dookie tastes like?

Aye yi yi... 

Rest assured, no personal experiences had with this one...

[sean]

I know what a dookie is, now what I really want to know is why do you know what a dookie tastes like?

Aye yi yi... 

Rest assured, no personal experiences had with this one...

Hmm, no "fear factor/survivor/man vs wild " experience there?

[bassman1977]

Hmm, no "fear factor/survivor/man vs wild " experience there?

No way.  That is extreame taken 5 steps further.  Man VS Wild is a pretty cool show by the way.  Unfortunately for me, I think I would starve to death.  There's no way I'm drinking water from elephant poo.  I'm afraid the most exotic food I've ever eatten is conk.   :shock:

[Brian D. Bray]

What no KiKi?  Those huge water beatles of New Guinea are considered the Escargot of the South Pacific. 

[Cindi]

If you freeze it and run it through a blender it turns to powder.

Michael, are you sure?   I heard that dookie was not very nice.  Why would you put it through a blender to turn to powder  :shock: :? :-D :-D :-D  Have a beautiful and wonderful day, watching out for dookies!!!!  Cindi

[bassman1977]

!!!  :shock: !!!

[Michael Bush]

>I heard that dookie was not very nice.

Dookie?

> Why would you put it through a blender to turn to powder

So you can mix it with food or put it in capsules for food supplements.