Laun/Pruett Recipe Collection
Pollen patty recipe for beehive

This recipe makes approximately 5.25 lbs. of pollen patties.
Ingredients:
2.6 lbs. sugar
1 lb. of HOT (boiling) water = 2 cups
1/4 cup of oil (vegetable, corn, canola, etc.)
1.7 lbs. Ultra-Bee pollen substitute

Add sugar and HOT water to mixing bowl, add oil, then as it mixes slowly add the pollen substitute.
Mix well and store in an airtight container.

First of all you need a sturdy electric mixer. I use a Kitchen Aid mixer I got from my sister when she redid her kitchen and the color no longer matched the rest of her kitchen stuff.

I mix the water, sugar, and oil in a pan on the stove. I heat the mixture on the stove until the sugar is well dissolved in the water. I then allow the mixture to cool to a point where it is just warm and NOT HOT. The reason for this is that I know that protein can be damaged by heat, and I don't want the protein in the pollen substitute to be damaged.

I put the water, sugar & oil mixture into the mixing bowl and slowly add the pollen substitute until everything is thoroughly mixed. Note: I use coconut oil in my pollen patties.

I then cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator to cool and thicken a little. One has to be careful not to leave the mixture in the refrigerator too long or it will get too stiff to easily make your pollen patties.

To make the pollen patties, tear off several (about 10) pieces of waxed paper 10"-12" long. Spoon a small amount of the patty mixture onto the waxed paper. Role the waxed paper around the patty mixture like you are making a burrito. (you don't need to fold in the ends) As you role up the patty gently press down on the mixture until it has a thickness of about 1/2".

Place the fresh pollen patties in an airtight container and store the container in the refrigerator.

In the August 2020 edition of American Bee Journal is an article in, Notes from the Lab: comparing Pollen, Pollen Substitute, Dry Spirulina and Fresh Spirulina. If you recall El Ray mentioned this article in one of our recent LACBA Zoom meetings.

Spirulina is the microalga Arthrospira Platensis and it is very rich in protein and nutrients. The ABJ article suggests that Spirulina could be a beneficial addition to Pollen Substitute Recipes. If you get a chance read the ABJ article.

I plan to experiment with the use of Spirulina in my pollen patties. I will probably try using a 50/50 mixture of Pollen Substitute and Spirulina to start with.

Anyway Beekeepers, I hope you find this helpful.

Take care and stay safe my friends,
Warren

Recipe Contributed by Warren Carl