Propolis, a special treasure from the beehive

Propolis is a resin-like substance that honeybees collect from plant sources and process further inside the hive. A special raw material from the world of bees, it has been valued for generations and continues to play a role in selected skincare and vitality formulations today.

Ein Imker hält vorsichtig einen Holzrahmen mit einer mit Bienen besetzten Honigwabe in den Händen. Die Wabe ist fast vollständig mit Honig gefüllt, viele Bienen arbeiten darauf. Im Hintergrund ist eine grüne Wiese zu erkennen.

Makroaufnahme von Honigbienen, die auf einer Wabe sitzen. Die sechseckige Struktur ist deutlich sichtbar, ebenso die pelzigen Körper und durchscheinenden Flügel der Bienen, die sich dicht aneinanderdrängen und in der Wabe arbeiten.

Ein Imker steht in Schutzkleidung mit Schleier vor mehreren Holzbeuten. Er hält einen Smoker in der Hand, aus dem Rauch aufsteigt, um die Bienen zu beruhigen. Im Hintergrund sieht man ein rustikales Holzgebäude mit Fensterfront, daneben einige Bienenstöck

PROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT BY:

Apiscura: Mit Bienen, Bäumen und Bergschafen

Martin Gundolf

Master Beekeeper · Beekeeping & Bee Products: Martin Gundolf is a master beekeeper, producer and long-standing partner of Alpine Naturprodukte GmbH. His expertise includes beekeeping, honey, propolis, beeswax and other products from the beehive.

Lisl Larcher

Management · Product Development & Skincare Concepts: Lisl Larcher manages Alpine Naturprodukte GmbH and oversees the ongoing development of its brands and products. Her focus is on product development, skincare concepts and combining alpine tradition with modern approaches to cosmetic product development.

How propolis is made in the beehive

Bees collect resinous substances from buds, plants and other plant sources and process them further inside the hive. This creates propolis, a sticky, resin-like substance also known as bee glue or bee resin. In the hive, it is used, among other things, to seal small gaps and coat surfaces. The plant components it contains depend on factors such as vegetation, region and the time of collection.

Traditional use & scientific perspective

Propolis has a long tradition of use as a bee product. Today, research is exploring its complex composition and the properties of different propolis extracts. Since propolis can vary considerably depending on its botanical and geographical origin, the findings of individual studies cannot simply be applied to other extracts or finished skincare products.

Propolis at Kaufhaus der Berge

Propolis has been part of our alpine product world for many years and is particularly associated with the Apiscura brand. Our connection to beekeeping goes back to the beginnings of our family business: in 1997, Reinhard Schuler founded the “Plattenrain-Alm” farming cooperative together with his son Christian and Pitztal beekeeper Martin Gundolf. To this day, master beekeeper Martin Gundolf represents this close connection to beekeeping. Propolis is used in various formulations across our product range, including creams, soaps and other products for external care.

Discover propolis products

Frequently asked questions about Propolis

What is propolis?

Propolis is a resin-like substance that bees collect from plant material and process further inside the hive. It is therefore often also referred to as bee glue or bee resin.

Where does propolis come from?

Bees collect resinous substances mainly from buds, bark and other plant sources. Which plants are involved depends on the vegetation surrounding the beehive.

What do bees use propolis for?

Bees use propolis, among other things, to seal small gaps in the hive and coat surfaces inside it.

Does propolis always have the same composition?

No. Its composition can vary depending on the surrounding plant life, geographical origin, season and other factors. This means that propolis extracts from different origins can also differ from one another.

Is propolis scientifically studied?

Research explores, among other things, the chemical composition and biological properties of different propolis extracts. However, findings relating to individual extracts cannot automatically be applied to every propolis product.

Which products at Kaufhaus der Berge contain propolis?

At Kaufhaus der Berge, propolis is mainly found in selected products from the Apiscura brand. In creams, balms, soaps, sprays and other formulations, propolis is combined with other ingredients from the beehive and selected plant-based ingredients.

Sources:

Biene Österreich – Propolis: Extraction and processing in our organic apiary. Technical information on the extraction and processing of propolis. It describes, among other things, how bees collect resins from trees and process them into propolis, and that raw propolis can vary from batch to batch. To the source.

University of Graz – Pharmaceutical investigation of propolis from Austria. Scientific paper from the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences on propolis from various regions of Carinthia and Graz. It addresses, among other things, the varying composition due to different plant sources as well as analytical investigation and standardisation. To the source.

University of Vienna – Comparative phytochemical analyses of selected representatives of the genus Populus
Scientific paper on the plant origin of propolis. It describes, among other things, how bees collect exudates from poplar buds and use them to form propolis; it also examines differences in chemical composition. To the source.

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