How to Distinguish True from False Propolis?
Bees first collect plant spores or resin on tree trunks. Then mixed with the secretions of its upper jaw gland and wax gland. Finally, it is processed into a colloidal solid with aromatic smell. This colloidal solid is propolis. Because of its many functions, it is deeply loved by consumers. Propolis contains rich and unique bioactive substances. It has a wide range of health care effects on human body and is known as "purple gold". It is a health product that many people eat now. How should propolis be identified?
Before talking about how to distinguish true from false, let's first talk about what wild propolis is. We should know here that local bees do not produce propolis. Therefore, many people say that wild propolis refers to the collection and aggravation of bees in a good ecological environment. This propolis is also what we often call primitive propolis. However, it contains some heavy metals and cannot be eaten directly.
Primitive propolis contains many heavy metals. They can only be eaten after purification. There are many propolis products on the market, such as propolis capsules, propolis liquid, propolis tablets, etc. Taking propolis capsule as an example, one propolis capsule was randomly selected. Observe its appearance, the appearance should be clean and tidy. No bonding, deformation or cracking is allowed, and there is no odor. If it does not meet the above requirements, it is a nonconforming product. Take a piece of clean white paper and lay it flat on the table. Choose a propolis soft capsule at will, cut the capsule and squeeze the contents on white paper. If the contents are not uniform, it is inferior. Or its solute and solvent are separated and roughened by hand, which is also inferior. If the contents are evenly distributed, they are of high quality.
You can also take clean test tubes or paper cups and put a proper amount of water of about 40 degrees. Choose propolis soft capsules at will, cut them and put them into them. Propolis soft capsules will dissolve quickly. After waiting for full dissolution, observe the bottom of the container. If there are more dark brown precipitates at the bottom, propolis content is relatively high. The propolis content is lower if the dark brown precipitate is less.
Real propolis has a natural and special fragrance. Poor quality propolis or fake propolis tastes very light. After dissolving a small amount of inferior propolis, the gum has a heavy taste and a faint foul smell. It even smells of chemical essence. True propolis tastes slightly bitter and spicy. Puncturing the capsule and squeezing it on the tip of the tongue will have the pungent feeling peculiar to propolis. False propolis does not.
However, this is only a sensory experience of people and cannot be accurately distinguished. Many people still inevitably buy inferior propolis with this method. Therefore, we should still believe in scientific means. The main component of propolis is flavonoids. It is also an important index for propolis quality evaluation. These can be detected through professional tests. The most important point is that propolis is a health product. When buying health care products, be sure to pay attention to whether there is a certification mark.
