Idealbee Fondant Ginseng 10kg

Energy fondant with ginseng for longer-lived bees and fewer winter losses

🧬 The differentiator: ginseng and adult worker longevity

A winter bee is not judged solely by her energy in the moment she feeds, but by how long she survives. A well-nourished winter worker with solid vitellogenin reserves can live 4 – 5 months; a malnourished one rarely makes it beyond 6 weeks. The ginsenosides in ginseng act on two fronts: as antioxidants, reducing accumulated cellular damage; and as a nervous system and general tonic, improving resistance to stress and fatigue. In controlled trials the combination of ginseng with fondant tripled worker longevity under captive conditions. In the real apiary, more days of life per bee translates directly into greater colony mass come February, when the queen resumes serious laying and the demand for nurse bees peaks.

🍯 Carbohydrates adapted to bee digestion

The IdealBee fondant patty has a 89 % dry matter content, built on beet sugar as the primary carbohydrate, complemented by glucose and fructose in balanced proportions. This composition delivers a steady energy supply without the excess water that can trigger dysentery during winter confinement, when bees cannot take cleansing flights. The patty does not soften or run in warm weather, making it suitable for use in any season without risk of dripping onto the brood. If summer temperatures are high, keeping the original plastic film over the exposed surface is enough to limit dehydration and prevent the patty from hardening excessively.

❄️ Overwintering survival: results verified in field conditions

Overwintering trials with real colonies confirmed the product's ability to maintain colony survival even without other food reserves in place. The recommended maintenance dose for winter is 1 – 1.5 kg per month per colony, placed directly on top of the frames within the heated zone of the winter cluster. The closer the patty sits to the cluster (within 10 cm), the quicker bees can access it without having to move away from the warmth. For apiaries with recurring winter starvation losses during prolonged cold spells, the ginseng layer adds a level of protection that standard fondant simply does not offer.

🔄 Beyond overwintering: year-round applications

IdealBee Ginseng Fondant covers specific situations throughout the whole season: in spring, to top up stores and speed up brood build-up 6 – 8 weeks ahead of the target nectar flow when cold snaps are still a risk and incoming nectar is irregular; for swarms and packages, to bridge the initial period before the colony builds its own stores; in colonies dedicated to biological material production (colony multiplication, queen rearing, royal jelly production), where continuous carbohydrate supply is critical to performance; and in mating nuclei, where the confined space limits storage and a fondant patty is a natural fit. Avoid use during active nectar flows to prevent any interference with honey production.

💡 Ready to use — no mixing, no heating

No dilution, heating or preparation required. Cut the plastic film to the desired size and place the patty directly on top of the frames with the plastic facing up to reduce moisture loss. Bees access it from below, at their own pace. Store in a dry place between 10 – 25 °C, away from direct sunlight. Under these conditions shelf life is 18 months from the production date. The product is certified Non-GMO and manufactured to ISO 9001 and ISO 22000 standards.