The usage of bee pollen as a culinary ingredient and a vitamin and health supplement dates back to the Greek and Egyptian cultures. Bee pollen contains an interesting array of vitamins, minerals and enzymes which historically have been thought to promote human and animal health and increase sexual and athletic performance. Bee Pollen is pollen the bees collect from the flowers of trees, shrubs and plants to which they add a small amount of nectar to and shape into a small pellet. Honey bees feed bee pollen to larvae as a source of protein and other nutrients. We collect bee pollen in the pellet form and remove any excess moisture by drying. The pollen is then frozen to kill any micro-organisms which could cause spoilage. No other further processing is done to the pollen pellets. Ames Farm Single Source Bee Pollen is segregated and packaged by bee yard location and distinct time periods. The flora sources are identified through microscopic analysis of the pollen grains. Every plant in nature has uniquely shaped pollen grains. Melissopalynology is the term used to describe the science of pollen analysis using microscopy . The label on the top of each lid describes the major flora sources in that container. In addition the side label lists the bee yard location where the pollen was harvested, and the time period the bee pollen was collected. A typical season can yield bee pollen from a wide range of flora. Like different nectar sources, the flavor profile of the different bee pollens can vary from sweet and fruity to nutty, cinnamon tones to even tangy, limey flavor Bee pollen should be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. Some people can be allergic to consuming bee pollen. A severe allergic reaction could occur in these individuals when the bee pollen comes in contact with the mucous membranes in the mouth and throat. If you have not consumed raw bee pollen before or maybe you have used a bee pollen product in tablet or capsule form. We recommend initially eating a small pellet first and then increasing the amount of pollen daily before going straight to your desired intake quanity . If you have concerns about consuming bee pollen, you should consult your physician. Some ways we recommend eating bee pollen are adding bee pollen to yogurt, fruit drinks, dressing a green salad, or as a fresh ingredient in a pasta dish.