Propolis is a resinous substance often called “bee glue,” which describes its function within the beehive. Honey bees collect this sticky material from various botanical sources, mixing it with their own secretions and beeswax to create a sealing agent. The primary purpose of propolis is to patch gaps and cracks, reinforcing the hive structure, controlling airflow, and defending the colony against pathogens and intruders. Its appearance, particularly its color, is highly variable and depends directly on the original plant sources.
Visual Characteristics of Raw Propolis
The physical look of raw propolis changes significantly based on the surrounding temperature. Below approximately 66°F (19°C), the material is typically hard and brittle, collected in solid, irregular chunks. When the temperature rises, propolis becomes soft, pliable, and extremely sticky. This stickiness allows the bees to effectively use it to coat and seal the hive interior.
The color spectrum of raw propolis is wide-ranging, but the most common hue is dark brown. Depending on the region and the specific plant material collected, the color can vary dramatically, showing shades of reddish-brown, yellow-green, or even black. Specialized types, like Brazilian red propolis, derive their vivid coloration from the red sap of plants like Dalbergia ecastophyllum. Raw propolis also possesses a strong, unique aromatic smell, often described as balsamic, woodsy, or pleasantly aromatic, due to volatile essential oils.
Source and Key Components
The complex composition of propolis determines its physical appearance and consistency. Honey bees primarily collect resins from the buds and sap flows of trees, such as poplars, conifers, and birches in temperate climates. This collected plant resin, which naturally seals tree wounds and defends against microbes, is then metabolized by the bees with wax and other secretions to produce the final propolis substance.
The general chemical makeup of raw propolis consists of roughly 50% plant resins and vegetable balsams, which act as the main coloring agents. Consistency is heavily influenced by the 20% to 40% of waxes and fatty acids present. About 10% of aromatic and essential oils give it its distinctive scent. The remaining percentage includes trace amounts of pollen and various organic compounds.
Processed Forms Available to Consumers
The raw material collected from the hive is usually cleaned and processed before being sold to consumers. Raw propolis is first refined to remove impurities like wood fragments and excess beeswax, yielding a concentrated resin extract. This refined propolis is then used to create various consumer products, each with a different final look.
Propolis tinctures, which are liquid extracts, are created by dissolving the refined propolis in alcohol or glycol to extract beneficial compounds like flavonoids. These liquid products typically appear as dark brown or amber solutions; the depth of the color relates to the concentration of the extract. For solid forms, the propolis resin is often ground into a fine powder and encapsulated into tablets or capsules. This powdered extract is usually a uniform light to dark brown color.