We do not purposefully harvest propolis from hives but obtain it every now and again during transfers. Supply is irregular and opportunistic so we do not have set restock dates. We do not know of anyone else selling this, but you could try Google or Facebook in a group like The Australian Native Bee Network.
Propolis from stingless bees is the authentic didgeridoo mouthpiece.
What is it?
Propolis is the nest-building material of Australian native stingless bees. Indigenous Australian's collected it from nests and used it for all kinds of traditional purposes, including didgeridoo mouthpieces. We use propolis in beekeeping to form rings around the entry hole of a recently divided hive to keep the entrance safe.
How do you use it?
Don’t ask me; you’re the didgeridoo expert; I just collect the stuff! But here’s a tip: it softens with heat, so drop it in warm water, put it in the sun, or whatever, and then you should be able to work it easily into the shape you desire. Another tip: it hardens with age (but it never really sets and can melt on a very hot day so don’t leave it in your car in the sun on a hot day or your mouthpiece will transform itself to a horrible sticky mess on your carpet). But here’s the best tip of all, when handling it, wet your hands, it will make the job a lot easier.
Where do we get it?
We harvest the propolis sustainably from native bees when transferring is necessary. The colony is not harmed. Only small amounts are produced, about 200 g per hive per year.
To get technical
Propolis is a mixture of wax and resin. Wax is from glands on the bee’s body and is a yellow soft material. Resin is produced by plants and is dark sticky stuff that hardens with age. The bees collect resin from plants, take it back to the nest, mix it with wax and use it to make their nest.
One block (12g) is enough for one or two digeridoo mouthpieces, or many propolis rings.
LIMIT OF 5 PIECES PER CUSTOMER PER ORDER
<3 pieces - untracked envelope. If you wish to pay extra for tracking, please contact us immediately after purchase.
Packaged in reused plastic to keep fresh. If not using immediately, store in a dry air-tight container.