The name "northern bee" for the bee breed doesn't actually indicate its habitat. However, all regions where northern bees are bred are characterized by cold and long winters. Previously, the breed was called Central European, Forest, and Central RussianMore details about the breed and why its honey is considered unique are found later in the article.
- × Northern bees lose their resistance to diseases when bred in warm regions.
- × Decrease in productivity and quality of honey due to non-compliance with climatic conditions.
Characteristic features, advantages and disadvantages
The northern bee inhabits vast areas of Siberia, the Far East, the Urals, and the Altai region. This species is also called "wild" because it prefers to live in its natural habitat—forests and harsh climates.
This breed has quite a few characteristics that distinguish it qualitatively from other bees:
- the breed is considered the most productive in the world;
- Bees are distinguished by their endurance and strength, and they do a tremendous amount of work in a short period of time;
- the queen bee is very fertile;
- the collected nectar is highly concentrated;
- bees make honey that is unique in taste and healing qualities;
- insects survive the winter well without using a lot of food;
- Northern bees spend the winter in open areas and do not need additional shelter.
The main difference and advantage is resistance to cold (severe frosts and long winters).
The disadvantages of the breed include:
- tendency to swarming – sometimes unwanted swarming can be observed in 90% of the apiary;
- bitterness;
- If the breed is bred in a warm climate, it loses its unique abilities and begins to get sick.
Features of honey and honey collection
Although honey plants bloom for a very short period in northern regions, this isn't a problem for northern bees—as soon as the weather warms and spring arrives, they immediately begin to be active. Their activity peaks during the late honey flow, when the nectar has particularly beneficial properties.
Honey from northern bees is considered the best of all beekeeping products.
The product's features include the following advantages:
- honey is stored very well and for a long time - it does not ferment and does not crystallize for a long time;
- The purity of honey is achieved because insects process it repeatedly, enriching it with enzymes and all the vitamins and nutrients necessary for humans;
- The composition includes natural antibiotics and antifungal substances;
- Bees collect nectar from various plants, berry bushes and aromatic herbs that grow only in the northern regions, which determines its unique composition and ecological purity;
- The closer the region is to the north, the higher the content of the diastase enzyme, and therefore the higher the quality of the honey (for example, in the honey of southern bees the number of this enzyme is 9 units, in Bashkir honey - about 12, in Altai honey - 18, and the honey of northern bees contains from 30 to 50 units of the diastase enzyme).
Honey containing more than 30 units of enzyme is considered medicinal, and up to 30 units is considered food.
Northern bee honey has medicinal properties and is used:
- as an antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal agent;
- to improve immunity;
- as an additive to vitamin complexes for vitamin deficiency, as well as during the rehabilitation period after surgery;
- as a medicine against colds and flu;
- With regular use, it helps men restore potency.
Wintering
Northern bees overwinter in snow-covered hives. The snow protects them from wind, frost, and external influences, helping them maintain good health and avoid disease.
The advantages of this type of wintering:
- a hardening process occurs, which has a positive effect on the immunity of insects;
- there is no need to purchase medications, which is a savings, and also helps improve the environmental performance of honey (it is known that the introduction of any medications would change the product obtained from bees);
- There are no temperature fluctuations in the houses, and the microclimate is always maintained at the same level, comfortable for the bees.
There are also some downsides: with this wintering method, the beekeeper has no way to check the bees' condition. The only thing a hive owner can and should do is prepare enough food for the winter.
- • Provide sufficient food for the winter, taking into account that it is impossible to check the condition of the bees.
- • Make sure that hives are located in areas where snow cover is stable and protected from the wind.
We invite you to learn more about the differences between this breed of bees, their breeding and maintenance, honey collection, and the main characteristics of honey by watching the video:
Purchasing bees and honey
The price of northern bee honey is approximately 2,500 rubles per kilogram in various regions of Russia. However, there is a high risk of purchasing something completely different under the guise of northern bee honey.
- ✓ The content of the diastase enzyme must be at least 30 units.
- ✓ Honey should have a specific aroma and taste, characteristic of northern plants.
Buying genuine northern honey, for example, in Moscow, is impossible. In all samples, the diastase level was no more than 7 units.
You can buy bees for breeding in Russia and other countries.
Several farms that sell bee packages:
- "Peasant farm" - Yaroslavl region;
- breeding reproducer, LLC "Pchela" - Volgograd region;
- LLC "Nizhnesypovskoye", breeding farm - Perm region, village of Uinskoye;
- LLC "PPH "NORTH BEE CENTER" - Arkhangelsk region;
- breeding farm, Closed Joint-Stock Company "Mountain Nectar" - Altai Krai;
- Agricultural production cooperative "Red Banner", breeding farm – Chuvash Republic.
The price for bee packages starts from 3,500 rubles.
Honey from the northern bee breed is not only a delicious treat but also the best natural medicine due to its high content of nutrients and vitamins, as well as enzymes and antioxidants. Northern bees are easy to care for, as they have a strong immune system and rarely get sick, and they also tolerate cold well.