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A returning honeybee can remember the scent, colour and shape of a flower, it’s distance and direction from the hive and the time of day she found the nectar.

Ancient Incas used beeswax to make jewellery. They would make a model then use it to make a mould, when the metal was poured in the wax would melt way, it is called Lost-wax-casting. This method is still used to this day.
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To produce enough food to sustain it and provide a pot if honey for your table, a colony must fly thr equivalents of 3 time around the planet.

Beefacts. Historically all cakes would have been sweetened with honey. Instead of Simnel cake this Easter, why not try a honey cake from ancient Rome? 

Try adding a little orange zest,  poppy seeds, or mixed fruit.

Ancient Roman Honey Cake
DULCIA PIPERATA
Serves 8-10

• 250 gr (2 cups) flour
• 14.8 ml (2 ½) tsp baking powder
• 2.5 ml (1 tsp) baking soda
• 2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) salt
• 14.8 ml (3 tsp) coriander
• 14.8 ml (3 tsp) pepper
• 2 eggs
• 1 egg yolk (no white)
• 215 gr (1 cup) oil, olive preferred
• 215 gr (1 cup) + 74 ml (5 tbsp) honey
• 59.5 gr (1/4 cup) sweet white wine
• 29.5 ml (2 tbsp) raw pine nuts
• 44 ml (3 tbsp) chopped raw almonds
• 29.5 ml (2 tbsp) chopped toasted hazelnuts

1. Place a rack in the middle of the oven; heat to 177 degrees Celsius/350 degrees Farenheit. Grease and flour a 9” cake pan. For ease of removal, you can also add parchment paper to the bottom of the pan, but make sure to grease and flour the sides.
   
   
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices.
   
   
3. In another large bowl, whisk 2 eggs and 1 egg yolk well. Whisk in oil, 1 cup of honey, and the wine until well combined.
   
   
4. Whisk in dry ingredients until smooth. Mix in the pine nuts and almonds.
   
   
5. Pour batter into pan and bake until springy to the touch and a cake tester comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool. Let rest for 20 minutes. Unmold the cake. Heat 5 tbsp of honey, mix with roasted hazelnuts and drizzle it over the cake. Let cool completely before serving.
   
   
6. This cake is best eaten the same day but will keep, if covered, at room temperature for up to two days. If more sweetness is desired, drizzle a little more honey on each slice before eating.

Recipe curtsy of Crystal King, you can find this recipe and more about Roman cookery here:

It's estimated that pollinators are worth £400 million pa to UK agriculture. Honeybees are useful because, when they find a pollen source, the whole hive will work that source until it has gone.

No beefacts today, just live action  taking advantage of the warmth to transfer some honeybees into their summer hive. The queen is in the main hive now so all the other bees will follow her in.

Honeybees prefer an expanse of forage that’s why they r so essential on crops. When planting for nature in your garden, plant in clumps, if the bees like it…so will other visitors.

.My bees are busy this morning brining in early rape pollen They feed this high calorie protein to their young brood. When you see pollen going in the entrance in early spring...you know all is well.

Honey bees reduce the water content of honey from 80% 2 between 17 - 18%, at this % it will keep indefinitely. Archaeologist found 3000 yr old honey in Egyptian tombs which was still edible. It was also used in embalming. 

It is said...after their wedding, Viking couples would traditionaly drink honey wine (mead) and eat honey cake for a luna month. Honey...moon. 

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