Beeswax
Also known as: Bees wax
Beeswax is the natural wax that young honey bees secrete and use to build their combs.
Beeswax is the natural wax secreted by young honey Bees. Tiny platelets come from eight glands on the underside of the abdomen; the bees chew them with saliva and build the hexagonal cells of the comb. A comb of about 20 g can hold 1000 g of Honey.
Wax is more than building material. It caps ripe honey, and mixed with some Propolis it seals cracks and protects the brood. Beekeepers with frame hives get wax almost only from cappings and the tops of honey cells. It is rendered in solar melters or by boiling in water.
Wax is insoluble in water and usually melts at 62–65 °C. For centuries it was the best material for candles because it burns straight. It goes into cosmetics, pharmaceutical preparations and comb foundation, the thin wax sheets for hive frames. Paraffin in foundation is adulteration and a severe breach of good practice.
According to FAO, beeswax is considered safe for human consumption; in comb honey the comb itself is edible.
Why this matters to you: a candle of real beeswax burns evenly, and the wax in comb honey can be eaten with the honey. When buying wax products, check that the wax is not blended with paraffin.
Facts
| Raw material | Wax platelets from eight glands of young bees |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Melts usually at 62–65 °C, insoluble in water |
| Main use | Candles, cosmetics, pharmaceutical preparations, comb foundation |
| Duration | A comb of about 20 g can hold 1000 g of honey |
How it connects to Honey & beekeeping
Beeswax → kind of → Bee products → kind of → 🍯 Honey
Links
- Where it comes from
- 🐝 Bees
- What is made from it
- Beeswax candles
- Part of
- Bee products
- Similar and different
- Royal jelly, 🍷 Sealing wax, Worker bee
- In other topics
- Comb honey
Frequently asked questions
Why do candles of real beeswax burn evenly?
Wax burns straight, which is why it was the best candle material for centuries.
Does beeswax dissolve in water, and when does it melt?
It is insoluble in water and usually melts at 62–65 °C.
Can I eat the wax in comb honey?
Yes. According to FAO, beeswax is considered safe for human consumption, and in comb honey the comb itself is edible.
What is wrong with paraffin in comb foundation?
Paraffin in foundation is adulteration and a severe breach of good practice, so check that wax products are not blended with it.
Is it true that bees collect wax from plants, like propolis?
No. Young bees secrete the wax from eight glands themselves, while propolis is a mixture of wax and resins collected from plants.
What to read next
- Beeswax candles — Beeswax candles are candles made from honey bee wax; with a melting point of 62–65 °C they keep their shape in warm rooms and drip less.
- 🍷 Sealing wax — Coloured wax used to seal the bottle neck.
- Worker bee — A worker bee is a female honey bee that normally does not lay eggs and does nearly all the colony's work.
- Royal jelly — Royal jelly is the secretion of young nurse bees' glands used to feed young larvae and the queen; it is harvested only from queen cells.
Similar
Propolis · Bee pollen · Beeswax candles · Bee bread · Royal jelly
Sources
- FAO, Krell R. (1996) Value-added products from beekeeping, Chapter 4 Wax
- Directive 2001/110/EC relating to honey (consolidated text, EUR-Lex)