Our Lovely Bees
Author: Phil Date Posted:31 May 2012
The Melbourne Food Depot has been the proud operator of one hive full of very active Italian bees since 2011. The hive is located on the deck at the Lygon Street office. When working in the test kitchen bees are visible flying off to the various pollen and nectar sources around the neighborhood. The Italian bees are supposedly the most passive bread even though we have had our fair share of stings. The honey we collect is used for various food projects, product trials, with a small amout being sold and of course on our toast.
Having been introduced to bee keeping by the high school Geography teacher many years ago it was always something I knew I would go back to at some point in my life. That point came when a new bee shop opened a couple of doors down from our Lygon Street Showroom. It has been great having a supplier and mentor that close at hand. The bees are now an intergral part to the Melbourne Food Depots future plans.
Close up of our bees showing young bees in the comb Fully protected and carrying out a hive inspection
Freshly made comb full of honey Older brood comb now used for honey
A number of local customers have been eating the full honeycomb to aid in treatment of their hayfever. The theory is that if you eat the honey from your local area it can drastically change your reaction to pollen (hay fever symptons).
Future projects will include freeze and spray drying the honey and developing a honey based ice cream.