The 4 “slow” bee-products to introduce in your daily routine; with Melicera for the World Bee Day 2022.
World Bee Day 2022
Plinius the Elder, author of the renowned Naturalis Historia, called the bees the "genitis hominis causa" (“created especially for man").
The World Bee Day is dedicated to bees, one of the most beloved insects to man but also among the most threatened today, which is celebrated to remember the fundamental role that this small and precious creature plays in our ecosystem.
On the occasion of World Bee Day 2022, I am partnering with the small & slow family beekeepers company MELICERA, who, under the Greek sun, produces bee products with the technique of sustainable nomadic beekeeping: the most healthy and rich form of beekeeping.
Scroll the article to discover the top bee products to introduce in your daily routine and use a special DISCOUNT on the MELICERA website until Sunday 30.05 on selected products.
“Daily Honey” Still life photorgaphy taken by me to celebrate the World Bee Day 2021.
About Melicera
MELICERA was born at the beginning of 2018 in Trikala by the young & beautiful Jiota Nizami. However, yet its roots start in 1985 by her father and passionated beekeeper, Mr. John Nizamis. Having studied in the field of Medical Lab Technology and after a long professional career in Switzerland, Jiota decided to go back to her roots and focus on what her childhood memories are full of: honey. It is a pleasure for me to collaborate with this tiny and mindful “Slow Luxury” brand on the occasion of such an important day of the year.
The brand name MELICERA contains two words. “Meli”, which in Greek means “honey” and “Cera” from Latin for “wax”.
The humans behind the brand value quality over quantity, that’s the reason why they produce slowly and in limited amounts of they award-winning products.
“Our philosophy is simple,
we close in the jar the taste that the bees choose.”
I asked Jiota about the practice of “nomadic beekeeping”
Before delving into the countless benefits of bee products, you may be curious to know what the technique of nomadic beekeeping exactly is:
MELICERA follows the tradition of nomadic beekeeping, which means that depending on the season, they move their beehives and they “take what each place gives them”.
Nomadic beekeeping is a special and demanding beekeeping form, which works in perfect harmony with bee's life and ecosystem. Indeed it follows nature´s rhythms and cycles.
Beekeepers transport their beehives every season from location to location, where flowers are in bloom and the bees can collect nectar from various species, to give different varieties of honey. The lives of nomadic beekeepers can involve whole seasons away from home and family, living in trucks or tents truly in tune with nature.
Beekeeping requires knowledge, vigilance, love and ability to observe and learn from the bee.
Finally, here are the 4 slow production bee products that you should include in your daily life:
Honey
Honey, the elixir of the Gods. Who doesn’t love a sweet spoon of honey on fresh bread? A pure and natural sweetener produced by Honey Bees for thousands of years, desired and consumed by mankind throughout the centuries. There are many claims the amount of nutrients contained in honey. It is indeed antimicrobial, antiviral, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, cosmetic, healing, just to mention a few.
Jiota explains how it provides soothing solutions for our hair and skin and it can be used variously in our everyday life from satisfying our wish for something sweet and healthy. Honey is definitely a sweet multi-purpose wonder.
Some curiosities around honey:
A teaspoon of a honey before falling asleep improves the quality of sleep itself.
Helps to lose weight and satisfy hunger.
Strengthens immunity and prevents allergies.
Thanks to its components, honey is a precious ally for the health and hydration of the skin, both consumed or applied as a mask.
It can be used in several cooking recipes. MELICERA suggests this strawberry & honey bowl and the yogurt & honey cake.
Products shout-out:
(click on the image to the shop)
2. Beeswax
Beeswax is a 100% natural product, free of any harmful substances. It is used in nature by bees to build honeycombs (the small cells where they keep honey, pollen and eggs). The use of beeswax is very ancient, it dates back to the ancient Egyptians who used to use it in the mummification processes and in the production of their ships.
At MELICERA the beeswax candles they produce are hand made with 100% pure beeswax sourced from their hives. All the materials used are environmentally friendly, without paraffin or chemical additives. The love for natural products and nice scents, led them to create their first candle in February 2020.
Since then, “we make one by one by hand with 100% pure beeswax from our hives, choosing the best raw materials and recruiting our ¨nose¨ for the most beautiful oil fragrances.”
Curiosities on beeswax:
Beeswax naturally gives off a sweet honey scent.
Beeswax candles burn up to five times longer than candles made with other waxes, due to their high melting point
Burning beeswax actually purifies the air, thanks to the emotions of negative ions.
By choosing Beeswax candles, you support local beekeepers.
Products shout-out:
(click on the image to the shop - 30 % DISCOUNT available until 30.05.22)
3. Pollen
Jiota explained that “bees pollen is a mixture of flower pollen, nectar and bee secretions.” It is collected from the hind legs of the bee, enriched with saliva and nectar and becomes a final irreplaceable product which cannot be created by man in the laboratory. Bees pollen is rich in amino acids, water, enzymes, lipids, vitamins.
Curiosities on Pollen:
Increases the detox capabilities of the liver.
It has a stimulating effect on the metabolism.
It is an excellent supplement, especially for those who follow a vegetarian diet.
It is perfect to be consumed in the morning, mainly as part of the granola mix.
Products shout-out:
(click on the image to the shop)
4. Royal Jelly
Royal jelly is produced by the hypopharyngeal glands located on the head of worker bees and is the queen's main food. Fresh royal jelly has a creamy texture, white color, distinctive smell and sour taste.
It requires a specific fine technique for its collection and consists of water, protein, amino acids, enzymes, vitamins mainly B-complex, trace minerals and antibacterial, antibiotic components.
Curiosities on Royal Jelly:
It is an excellent remedy for slowing down skin aging. It particularly acts on the harmful effects caused by exposure to UVB rays.
It is an excellent cicatrizant
Products shout-out:
(click on the image to the shop)
Before you leave, here are some practices for CONSCIOUS BEE PRODUCTS shopping & lifestyle:
If we want to encourage a more sustainable approach to bee-keeping, we need to think of honey in a different way, as a precious natural gift. Besides the bigger brands, the healthier and environment- friendly alternative lies on small-scale, slow-production honey producers like MELICERA.
Buying from small local businesses like them guarantees the healthiest and most sustainable production methods, allergic to fast and mass production, so that the well-being of bees becomes top priority.
Here, according to MELICERA, are some active tips to support this precious category.
Buy small-scale and slow produced products from a known source, in which they are produced by individual bee-keepers who practise balanced bee-keeping with love and passion, as a lifestyle on its own.
Planting is one of the most beautiful and easy things that we can do to help protect the bees and enhance their precious activity. That’s why, lately we as MELICERA took the initiative to add thyme seeds to every of our gift sets with planting instructions, so that all the people who choose us will have the chance to plant their own thyme on their balcony, or garden and enjoy it at cooking and mainly, with this simple method, will help to protect the bees.
Thank you very much for reading up to this point!
I hope, together with Jiota from Melicera, to have opened a useful window on the world of sustainable, slow bee-products production.
Every single precious feedback will be much appreciated!
