Bee Propolis Tincture Recipe
If you have some raw bee propolis on hand, making a propolis tincture is surprisingly simple. This traditional 1:9 propolis tincture recipe uses just two main ingredients – raw propolis and grain alcohol – and a few basic supplies. In this guide, you’ll learn how to create your own tincture right at home.
We beekeepers are not the only ones that can appreciate the many products from the bee hive. Honey bees are remarkable chemists and they create these substances without a college degree!
Why Make a Tincture with Propolis?
So, what’s so special about propolis? Bee propolis is a sticky resin that honey bees make by collecting sap from tree buds and plants.
After adding their own sections to the collected resins, bees use propolis is used to seal cracks in the hive, strengthen their comb and it help maintain a healthy environment.
Because it plays such an important role in colony health, humans have used propolis in traditional remedies for generations.
One common practice is to make a propolis tincture using alcohol to extract beneficial compounds from raw propolis.
Many people believe propolis tinctures may offer wellness benefits, but research is ongoing. This tutorial is intended to show you have a traditional tincture is made – I make no medical claims.
What You’ll Need
- raw bee propolis – clean propolis collected from the hive
- 90-95 alcohol / 180–190 proof (Everclear is commonly used)
- kitchen scale – measuring by weight makes it easier to get the proper ratio
- small jar with tight-fitting lid – large enough to hold propolis and alcohol and shake
- cheese cloth or fine strainer – to strain out remaining solids after steeping
- dropper bottle for storage – dark glass with dropper for finished tincture
- a bit of patience
Note: Do NOT use rubbing alcohol. It is not safe for internal use.
Preparing the Propolis
If you’re a beekeeper (like me), you may already have some propolis harvested from your equipment. If you want to learn how – see my article on harvesting propolis from a beehive. You can purchase dried propolis online.
Store raw propolis in a sealed container until you’re ready to use it. For long-term storage, I often keep mine in the freezer, it stays fresh and the cold temperature makes it easier to break it into pieces.
Choosing the Right Alcohol
For tincture making, high-proof grain alcohol works best because it does a good job of efficiently extracting the resinous compounds.
Everclear (90–95% alcohol / 180–190 proof ) is the most popular choice. You can get it at the liquor store (Red Dot).
You can use lower-proof grain alcohol if that’s all you can get. But, avoid anything with additives or flavors. Again: rubbing alcohol is NOT the same thing. It should never be consumed.
Propolis Tincture Ratio
For this recipe, I use a 1:9 ratio of propolis to alcohol by weight. This makes approximately a 10% propolis tincture.
For example, if you have 1 ounce of propolis, you would use 9 ounces of alcohol. For 2 ounces of propolis, use 18 ounces of alcohol.
Don’t worry if all of the propolis does not dissolve. Some wax and other insoluble material will remain and be strained out later.
**This DIY tutorial is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Use at your own descretion.
How to Make a Propolis Tincture (Step by Step)
Most propolis tinctures are made using a 1:9 ration by weight (you will need a kitchen scale). This means you need 1 part propolis to mix with 9 parts alcohol. This produces a traditional 10% tincture.
1. Break the propolis into small pieces (optional – but a good idea). Cold propolis shatters easily – another reason the freezer trick works well. But, I never have any problem tearing warm bits apart.
2. Weigh Your Ingredients. Measure the amount of propolis you have by weight using a small scale.
For example, 1 ounce net weight (not volume) is mixed with 9 ounces of alcohol – you can’t use measuring cups. That gives you volume not weight!
3. Combine in a Jar. Add the propolis pieces and alcohol to a glass jar and seal tightly. Any size jar is fine but for this recipe a wide mouth pint jar works well.
4. Shake Well. I like to give the jar a good shake for a minute or so in the beginnng. Then, store it in a dark cabinet.
5. Shake Daily. This is the patience part.
Every day for 2-3 weeks stop by the cabinet and give the jar a couple of good shakes. This helps the resin dissolve – you will notice this as time goes by.
Straining and Bottling
Most (but not all) of the solids will break down into the alcohol. Any leftovers can be strained out and resused for a weaker batch or discarded.
For straining place a clean strainer or piece of cheesecloth over a jar or bowl and slowly pour the mixture through. This should remove any solid bits that are left.
I choose to transfer the filtered liquid to a small glass dropper bottle – for ease of use. A small funnel is handy – not absoutely necessary but may save you a mess to clean up.
Store the finished tincture in a cool, dark place. Properly prepared the tincture can last for many months – up to a year.
Using and Storing
Once strained, pour the finished tincture into a clean, dark glass bottle. Amber dropper bottles are a convenient choice because they help protect the contents from light and make small amounts easy to dispense.
Store your tincture tightly sealed in a cool, dark location away from direct sunlight and heat. Because it is alcohol-based, refrigeration is generally not necessary.
There are many traditional uses for propolis tincture. Some people use it topically, while others add small amounts to homemade preparations.
Personally, I like having a bottle on hand as part of my collection of useful products from the hive. Just remember that propolis can cause allergic reactions in some people, particularly those who are sensitive to bee products.
This recipe is shared for educational purposes and is not intended as medical advice.
FAQs
Grain alcohol such as Everclear (90–95 proof) is a good choice because it extracts many of the alcohol-soluble compounds in propolis.
I let my propolis tincture steep for at least a couple of weeks, shaking the jar once or twice a day when I remember. Some people allow it to steep longer.
This is normal. Raw propolis contains wax and other materials that do not dissolve completely in alcohol. These solids are removed when you strain the finished tincture.
Propolis tincture has a long history of traditional topical use. However, propolis can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions in some people, especially those who are sensitive to bee products. Discontinue use if irritation occurs.
Making your own propolis tincture is a simple way to put this useful hive product to work. With just a little preparation and patience, you’ll have a homemade tincture ready to use.
Additional Resources:
DIY Propolis Tincture Recipe Tutorial
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- 1 dropper bottle (similar) for storage (amber is best)
- 1 cheesecloth (or strainer)
- 1 small glass jar with tight lid
Supplies
- 1 oz bee propolis raw
- 9 oz 90–95% alcohol / 180–190 proof
Instructions
- Break the raw propolis into small pieces. Freezing it first makes it easier to crumble.
- Use a kitchen scale to measure the propolis by weight.
- Weigh out nine times that amount in grain alcohol.
- Add the propolis to a clean glass jar. Pour the measured alcohol over it and seal tightly. Mix vigorously to mix everything together.
- Store the jar in a cool, dark place for 2-3 weeks. Shake it once or twice a day to help the propolis dissolve.
- When steeping is complete, strain the liquid through cheesecloth or a fine filter to remove any debris.
- Bottling – Transfer the filtered tincture to a small glass bottle or dropper bottle for easy use. A dark-colored or amber bottle is best. If you don't have one, wrap a clear bottle in foil to protect the tincture from light.
Perfect
Thannk you.