Pot-Pollen ‘Samburá’ Marketing in Brazil and Suggested Legislation

Abstract

The pollen collected and stored by stingless bees is a source of protein that can be exploited by meliponicultors, both for nutrition and income. Fresh pollen is similar to corbicular Apis mellifera bee pollen and is collected at the entrance to the nest or hive, while fermented pot-pollen or ‘samburá’ comes from nest pollen stored in cerumen pots. In Brazil, pot-pollen is often harvested from wild colonies, mixed with Apis honey, and then sold. Pot-pollen producers often maintain colonies of Scaptotrigona, besides Frieseomelitta, Melipona, Nannotrigona, Tetragonisca, and Trigona. There is increasing demand for ‘samburá’ by the gourmet market. Efficient harvesting tools and technologies are required. Physical-chemical-microbiological-palynological and organoleptic characterization of fresh pollen and pot-pollen is needed for species with potential for production. A selection of botanical species to increase pot-pollen yields would benefit this industry.