Raw honey

Straight from the hive: pure, unheated, unpasteurized, 100% unprocessed.

DrApis' artisanal raw honey is produced and extracted using exclusively traditional methods, preserving all the natural vitamins, enzymes, phytonutrients and other nutritional elements produced by bees.

It is made in Alentejo (Southern Portugal) by the local subspecie of honey bees, Apis mellifera iberiensis. These bees work during Spring and Summer, gathering nectar from the annual wildflowers that sprout in Alentejo's dehesa.

Unlike industrial honey packagers, DrApis does not mix honey to normalize batches. Thus, honey colour and flavour will change with every new harvest. During Spring our honey is light coloured with a delicate and mild flavour, derived from a floral source dominated by clovers (Trifolium spp.), wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum) and lavender (Lavandula stoechas luisieri). As we reach the end of Summer, honey gets darker and acquires a bolder and richer flavour, coming from the nectar of late blooming flowers, mostly thistles (Carduus, Cirsium, Cynara and Galactites spp.) and pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium).

At DrApis we let nature take its time. We let bees brew their honey until the fermentation and dehydration processes are fully complete. This renders a ripe and nutrient-rich honey with down to 16% humidity level, ready to be stored for millennia without spoiling.

Comb honey

Pots of pure honeycomb drowning in honey. At it's rawest.

These are glass jars that we cram from top to bottom with capped honeycombs chunks. We then add just enough raw honey to fill in the void spaces. Both combs and honey come from the same hive, keeping colour and flavour as pristine as you can get. The end result is a treat for all true honey lovers.

Honey aficionados will tell you that honey tastes specially delicious and fresh when eaten from combs. Just as honey, the flavour of beeswax also varies according to what bees are foraging at the time. This adds a richness to the flavour that extracted honey doesn't have.

Combs are a great way to eat straight honey. You just put them in your mouth and suck the honey out. Some people also chew on the beeswax afterwards, much like a chewing gum, and then discard it.

We choose to store our comb honey in glass containers instead of plastic to avoid BPA (bisphenol A) exposure and allow for easy decrystallization.

Beeswax

All natural and eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based waxes.

DrApis' raw beeswax is unfiltered and chemical free. We currently offer two types of beeswax.

Yellow beeswax

Pure wax secreted by bees that absorbs some of the pollen and nectar stored in honeycombs. Thus it's floral sweet scent and it's amber colour. Yellow beeswax stays in hives only for short periods between harvests. It is soft and suitable for:

skin care and cosmetics;
culinary arts;
boot polishing (bulling);
furniture polishing;
cool water surfboard wax (15-20 °C / 58-68 °F).

Brown beeswax

A hard wax that stays in hives for longer periods. Besides nectar it also accumulates some pollen oils and propolis residues. This gives it an earthy/woody scent with honey nuances. It is good for:

candle-making;
sculpture;
soap-making;
didgeridoo mouthpieces;
warm water surf wax (19-24 °C / 65-75 °F).

Propolis

Traditional all natural medicinal ingredient.

20g (0.7 oz)
€4.97

50g (1.7 oz)
€10.00

200g (7 oz)
€22.80

400g (14.1 oz)
€45.90

800g (1.7 lbs)
€81.80

1800g (4 lbs)
€165.30

Propolis, also known as bee glue, is a sticky resin produced by worker bees. These gather sap from nearby plants and trees and mix it with beeswax, pollen, essential oils and saliva. Bees use it to seal small gaps in the hive and to inhibit fungal and bacterial growth.

Propolis has been used in folk medicine for thousands of years for it's antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiseptic properties.

Propolis tinctures are used as a natural antibiotic to heal sore throat, pharyngitis, laryngitis, ear infections, and hinder the development of colds and influenza.

Propolis ointments have been successfully used to heal genital herpes, cold sores (herpes labialis) and other skin injuries, as they limit the development of scars and accelerate wound healing.

Raw propolis can be consumed as is. The usual method is to take it on the first signs of a sore throat, by placing a small amount (1/2 teaspoon or less) in the mouth, keeping it there for up to 6 hours. In the Persian culture raw propolis is rolled into a small ball and ingested straight like a pill.

To take a tincture dilute 3-4 drops in half glass of warm water, then drink or gargle. Use it once to twice a day. You can also apply to the skin where necessary using a cotton bud or piece of linen moistened with the liquid.

Raw propolis should be stored in the freezer. This prevents mold formation and makes propolis hard and brittle, thus easier to handle when preparing ointments or tinctures.

Tincture

Bee medicine in alcohol solution.

3mL (60 drops)
€4.00

30mL (1 fl oz)
€10.00

At DrApis, we generally prefer to take our propolis raw. However, the taste is strong. Some prefer it in tincture. A solution of propolis and high degree alcohol.

How to use propolis tincture?
Drink or gargle, directly from the dropper. Or dilute 3-4 drops in 1/2 glass of warm water, once to twice a day.

Bee bread

Pure flower protein, fermented by our bees. Bees' super food.

Worker bees hop from flower to flower gathering nectar, and pollen. While nectar is used to produce honey, the bees' carbohydrates source. Pollen is packed into separate honeycombs, and mixed with some nectar and enzymes secreted by bees. After slightly fermenting, it turns into bee bread, also known as perga.

Bee bread is consumed by bees for its high protein, minerals and vitamins content, making up for honey's deficiencies. It can be consumed by vegetarians as a rich protein source. The fermentation process changes the composition and nutritional value of pollen, making it easier to digest and absorb by the organism. It is said to alleviate digestive disorders and pollen allergies. Bee bread is used by athletes for its antioxidant properties. Athletes also believe it boosts performance and accelerates recovery after training.

Bee bread has a fruit-like taste, lingering between sour and sweet. It can be eaten plain or added to yoghurt or breakfast cereals.

Custom labelling

Raw apiculture supplies meets your brand

Customize our products with your brand or personalized labelling. Anything from lid stickers, to booklets, is customizable on request.

Drop us an email for further assistance.

Order

Click the buy buttons or send us an email

sales@drapis.com

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Shipping

Invoices originated from buy buttons include worlwide postage. European customers should order by email for appropriate (lower) shipping costs.

Shipped through expedited mail with tracking. Expected delivery times:

Europe: 3 business days.
Rest of the world: 5 business days.

Delivery may take 15 business days or longer in countries with tight or lengthy customs' inspections.

Eco-friendly packing material

DrApis repurposes materials such as old magazines and newspapers for cushioning. Reuses old bubble wraps, foams and other existing packaging material over new, biodegradable packing material to save natural resources.

Payment methods and fees

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Monero and other cryptocurrencies: 0% fee.
PayPal and credit cards: 4.9% + 0.35€ fee.

Other payment methods may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.

Raw Apiculture made in Portugal