How is propolis created?

From the resin of the tree to the hive of the honeybee, nature has created bee propolis, a powerful immunity supporting product.

How do honeybees make propolis? And how can we put the hive’s protective power to work in our own bodies?

Sometimes known as ‘bee glue’, bee propolis is created by honeybees to protect their hives and keep them free from disease – warding off any incoming bacteria, viruses, fungi and other illness from entering the hive. Propolis contains over 300 bioactive compounds, flavonoids and phenolics that can help fight free radicals and support your immune system, naturally.

With a daily dose of Comvita Immune Bee™ Propolis, you can protect your body in the same way that bees cleverly use bee propolis to protect the hive. But have you ever wondered how this amazing natural protective system is made? Scroll down to discover how bee propolis is created and learn how the incredible protective power of bee propolis can help you Be Life Ready™.

The most important job in the hive.

Everyone’s heard the famous phrase “as busy as a bee” and that couldn’t be more accurate. Making propolis is just one of over 300 jobs that worker honeybees do - but it’s one of the most important.

Honeybees make propolis from the natural sap and resins from trees and plants. These resins are part of the tree or plant’s immune system and are secreted by the tree when it’s undergoing growth or repairing an injury.

Because bee propolis originates from a plant’s immune system (the resin from the trees) it is extremely potent and contains over 300 natural bioactive compounds, flavonoids and phenolics (potent antioxidants) that work at the cellular level to fight free radicals and support the body’s immune system, naturally.

Bee propolis is used as a barrier to provide powerful protection to the hive, warding off any incoming bacteria, viruses, fungi and other illness from entering.

Protection is a team effort

Worker bees collect propolis during warmer days when the resin they need is soft and malleable. Using their sharp mandibles, these hard-working bees tear off a tiny piece of resin from the tree and transfer it to their pollen baskets.

The bee carries the resin back to the hive, where other worker bees will help extract it from her pollen basket. Together, they then mix the resin with beeswax, enzymes to make propolis to seal and protect the hive.

What do bees use propolis for?

With thousands bees buzzing around in each hive, honeybees require pristine cleanliness to help their colony be strong and operate at peak performance.

Honeybees use bee propolis to glue up holes and line the hive which enables the coating to act as a protective barrier against incoming bacteria, viral and fungal infections. This also helps to keep the hive insulated and prevents drafts from entering. Another important use of propolis, is to line the interior of the brood cells prior to the queen bee laying eggs in them so that the eggs are laid into pristinely clean cells until birth.

In addition to these practical uses, bee propolis is also used to construct honeycomb. The bees will mix propolis with wax to create a strong, durable material for building the cells of the comb so they can store honey and raise their young in a safe and secure environment.

Honeybees even lay down a mat made of propolis to walk over and cleanse themselves as they enter the hive. Propolis truly is one of nature’s medicinal marvels!


A worker honeybee carries tree resin - one of the raw ingredients needed to make propolis - back to the hive in her pollen baskets.

Support your immunity with Immune Bee™ Propolis

Comvita’s Immune Bee Propolis contains over 300 bioactive compounds, flavonoids and phenolics that can help fight free radicals and support your immune system, naturally.

Unlike synthetic immunity supplements made in factories, our Comvita Immune Beeᵀᴹ Propolis is made in nature, by honeybees, in beehives. We source raw propolis, gently wash away the beeswax, debris and other impurities leaving behind pure, propolis concentrated extract. This concentrate is then lovingly bottled into formats for your convenience.

Together with the Cawthorn Institute (a leading New Zealand Government Crown Research Institute), Comvita has developed a unique, advanced analytical technology that measures the concentration of pure flavonoids per serve of bee propolis. We call this measure PFL™ which stands for Propolis Flavonoid Level. Through our PFL™ technology , we guarantee you receive the exact amount of flavonoids per serve, depending on your needs.

Comvita's PFL™ technology, we guarantee you receive the exact amount of flavonoids per serve, depending on your needs.

Comvita is known and trusted for its ability to bring you the finest bee products on earth. As a world leader in bee propolis, nearly 50 years of beekeeping knowledge, expertise and caring is lovingly bottled into every jar.

So why not put one of nature’s most powerful protectors to work for your immune system with Immune Bee Propolis?