Honey is a
delicious natural sweeter that can be used in lieu
of cane sugar. Of course, the best honey is local
honey. But honey bees also provide us with a host
of other good things. Below is a description of the
most common honey bee products, and at the bottom
of the page is a list of Long Island beekeepers who
offer many of them. Our local beekeepers are ready
to provide you with the best all natural products,
made by Long Island honey bees.
Honey Bee Products Primer
Beeswax: Honey bees have wax-producing glands on the underside of their abdomens. They manipulate this wax to create vertical sheets, or comb, of hexagonal (six-sided) tubes, or cells, that are used to store nectar, pollen, and to raise new bees. Because beeswax has a high melting point (144 to 147 degrees F), it makes for excellent candles that have a "warmer" colored flame and very little visible smoke. Beeswax is also used in natural soaps, lotions, and cosmetics such as lip balm, and as a superior wood polish.
Honey: Honey bees collect nectar from flowers, return to the hive and store it in wax honeycomb to use as a source of carbohydrates. The bees then use their wings to create a strong draft across the honeycomb which evaporates most of the water from the nectar, producing thick, golden, sweet honey. When the nectar has become honey the bees seal it with a wax cap. The bees store honey to use as a source of food during the winter or when nectar is scarce. As long as there is room in the hive, honey bees will store more honey than they will normally need, so beekeepers remove the excess honey and honeycomb. Bottled liquid honey is honey removed from the comb; chunk or comb honey is honey still in the wax honeycomb, straight from the hive.
Warning: Honey should not be fed to infants under one year of age. In rare instances honey can contain a minute quantity of a naturally occurring substance that is harmless to adults but can make children under 12 months ill.
Whipped Honey (also known as creamed honey, spun honey, churned honey, candied honey, and honey fondant): Honey that has been naturally crystallized producing a honey with a smooth, spreadable consistency.
Pollen (also known as bee bread): Honey bees collect pollen from flowers, return to the hive and store it in wax honeycomb to use as a source of protein. Beekeepers place specially designed pollen-traps at the hive entrance; as the pollen-carrying bees enter the hive some of the pollen is collected. Bee pollen is usually sold in bottles and people use it in naturopathic medicine and as a nutritional supplement.
Propolis: Honey bees collect resin from tree buds and sap to create a sticky glue that they use to fill gaps in the hive. Propolis is believed to be effective in the relief of various health problems, including inflammations, viral diseases, ulcers, superficial burns or scalds, and to promote heart health and strengthen the immune system. Some beekeepers believe that a piece of propolis kept in the mouth is a remedy for a sore throat.
Honey bee venom (also known as apitoxin): Worker honey bees have a stinger made to inject a small quantity of venom as a form of self-defense. Bee venom therapy is believed by some to be a treatment for rheumatism and joint diseases due to its anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory properties.
If you are looking for honey bees and beekeeping equipment, try our Classifieds page.
Having trouble with a swarm of bees? Head on over to our swarm list.
Honey Bee Products Primer
Beeswax: Honey bees have wax-producing glands on the underside of their abdomens. They manipulate this wax to create vertical sheets, or comb, of hexagonal (six-sided) tubes, or cells, that are used to store nectar, pollen, and to raise new bees. Because beeswax has a high melting point (144 to 147 degrees F), it makes for excellent candles that have a "warmer" colored flame and very little visible smoke. Beeswax is also used in natural soaps, lotions, and cosmetics such as lip balm, and as a superior wood polish.
Honey: Honey bees collect nectar from flowers, return to the hive and store it in wax honeycomb to use as a source of carbohydrates. The bees then use their wings to create a strong draft across the honeycomb which evaporates most of the water from the nectar, producing thick, golden, sweet honey. When the nectar has become honey the bees seal it with a wax cap. The bees store honey to use as a source of food during the winter or when nectar is scarce. As long as there is room in the hive, honey bees will store more honey than they will normally need, so beekeepers remove the excess honey and honeycomb. Bottled liquid honey is honey removed from the comb; chunk or comb honey is honey still in the wax honeycomb, straight from the hive.
Warning: Honey should not be fed to infants under one year of age. In rare instances honey can contain a minute quantity of a naturally occurring substance that is harmless to adults but can make children under 12 months ill.
Whipped Honey (also known as creamed honey, spun honey, churned honey, candied honey, and honey fondant): Honey that has been naturally crystallized producing a honey with a smooth, spreadable consistency.
Pollen (also known as bee bread): Honey bees collect pollen from flowers, return to the hive and store it in wax honeycomb to use as a source of protein. Beekeepers place specially designed pollen-traps at the hive entrance; as the pollen-carrying bees enter the hive some of the pollen is collected. Bee pollen is usually sold in bottles and people use it in naturopathic medicine and as a nutritional supplement.
Propolis: Honey bees collect resin from tree buds and sap to create a sticky glue that they use to fill gaps in the hive. Propolis is believed to be effective in the relief of various health problems, including inflammations, viral diseases, ulcers, superficial burns or scalds, and to promote heart health and strengthen the immune system. Some beekeepers believe that a piece of propolis kept in the mouth is a remedy for a sore throat.
Honey bee venom (also known as apitoxin): Worker honey bees have a stinger made to inject a small quantity of venom as a form of self-defense. Bee venom therapy is believed by some to be a treatment for rheumatism and joint diseases due to its anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory properties.
If you are looking for honey bees and beekeeping equipment, try our Classifieds page.
Having trouble with a swarm of bees? Head on over to our swarm list.
Location:
Bayport NY 11705
Beekeeper: Jim Fischer and Joanne Thomas Fischer
Products: Honey, Lip Balm, Body Cream, Lotion Bars, Fischer’s Bee Quick
Website: www.bee-quick.com
Email: bee-quick@bee-quick.com
Phone: (917) 628-4052
Location: Bohemia NY 11716
Beekeeper: Ray Lackey
Products: Honey, Beeswax Candles, Presentations, Pollination, Observation Hives
Website: www.tianca.com
Email: lackeyray@tianca.com
Phone: (631) 567-1936
Location: Hicksville NY 11801
Beekeeper: Al Gruenthaler
Products: All Natural Local Honey
Phone: (516) 433-7035
Location: 30 Cherry Lane, Huntington NY 11743
Beekeeper: Rich Blohm
Products: Raw, Unheated Local Honey and Comb Honey
Email: beebiz@msn.com
Phone: (631) 271-7812
Location: Central Islip NY 11722
Beekeeper: Ernie Schwasnick
Products: Honey, Comb Honey, and Pollen
Email: conschwas@optonline.net
Phone: (631) 582-3184, or cell: (516) 830-1837
Location: Ronkonkoma NY 11779
Beekeeper: Miguel Valentin, Mickely Bee Apiaries
Products: Honey, Royal Jelly, Beeswax Candles, and Pollen
Phone: (631) 588-6102, or cell: (516) 313-6967
Location: Setauket (Strongs Neck) NY 11733
Beekeeper: Wayne Vitale
Products: Honey, Bees, Hive Tours
Email: spycoastbeeman@optonline.net
Phone: (516) 680-3020
Location: East Hampton NY 11937
Beekeeper: Rob Deichert
Products: Honey
Email: hamptonsrob@gmail.com
Phone: (914) 371-6679
Beekeeper: Jim Fischer and Joanne Thomas Fischer
Products: Honey, Lip Balm, Body Cream, Lotion Bars, Fischer’s Bee Quick
Website: www.bee-quick.com
Email: bee-quick@bee-quick.com
Phone: (917) 628-4052
Location: Bohemia NY 11716
Beekeeper: Ray Lackey
Products: Honey, Beeswax Candles, Presentations, Pollination, Observation Hives
Website: www.tianca.com
Email: lackeyray@tianca.com
Phone: (631) 567-1936
Location: Hicksville NY 11801
Beekeeper: Al Gruenthaler
Products: All Natural Local Honey
Phone: (516) 433-7035
Location: 30 Cherry Lane, Huntington NY 11743
Beekeeper: Rich Blohm
Products: Raw, Unheated Local Honey and Comb Honey
Email: beebiz@msn.com
Phone: (631) 271-7812
Location: Central Islip NY 11722
Beekeeper: Ernie Schwasnick
Products: Honey, Comb Honey, and Pollen
Email: conschwas@optonline.net
Phone: (631) 582-3184, or cell: (516) 830-1837
Location: Ronkonkoma NY 11779
Beekeeper: Miguel Valentin, Mickely Bee Apiaries
Products: Honey, Royal Jelly, Beeswax Candles, and Pollen
Phone: (631) 588-6102, or cell: (516) 313-6967
Location: Setauket (Strongs Neck) NY 11733
Beekeeper: Wayne Vitale
Products: Honey, Bees, Hive Tours
Email: spycoastbeeman@optonline.net
Phone: (516) 680-3020
Location: East Hampton NY 11937
Beekeeper: Rob Deichert
Products: Honey
Email: hamptonsrob@gmail.com
Phone: (914) 371-6679
If you're a member of the Long Island
Beekeepers Club, and would like to have your apiary
listed on this page, then click on
this link to submit your information to the
webmaster.