Answers before you ask
Frequently asked questions
Everything we get asked about our honey, our bees and how we work — answered honestly. If your question isn’t here, get in touch.
About our honey
How is your honey different from supermarket honey?
Our honey is raw and unfiltered — cold-extracted and never heated above hive temperature. It retains natural enzymes, pollen and antioxidants that are destroyed in commercial processing. It also comes from specific Melbourne apiaries rather than being a blend from multiple sources, so you know exactly where your honey was foraged. We pack in glass jars only — no plastic containers.
Why has my honey crystallised or gone hard?
Crystallisation is completely natural and a sign of genuine raw honey — it means yours hasn’t been heat-treated or ultra-filtered. All raw honey crystallises eventually; some batches faster than others depending on the floral source. To return it to liquid, stand the jar in a bowl of warm water (not boiling) and stir gently. Never microwave honey — it destroys the enzymes and beneficial properties that make raw honey worth buying.
Why does my honey taste different from last time?
That’s expected and a good sign. Our honey is single-apiary, not blended — each batch reflects whatever the bees were foraging that season. Different flowers, different weather, different honey. Colour and texture vary naturally with the nectar sources too, and like all raw honey, it will deepen in colour and granulate over time. This is a sign of quality, not spoilage.
Why are there sometimes tiny flecks in my honey?
Those are usually small specks of propolis — the natural resin bees collect from plants and use to seal and protect the hive. Because we only sieve our honey (400 microns) rather than fine-filter it, a little propolis naturally carries through. It’s harmless, it’s part of what makes raw honey raw, and many people consider it a bonus.
Is your honey certified organic?
No. Organic certification requires controlling what bees forage across a very wide radius, which isn’t possible in suburban Melbourne — bees fly up to 5 km. What we can guarantee is that we never use synthetic chemicals in the hive — no pesticides, no antibiotics, no miticides — and our bees are managed naturally. If mite treatment is ever needed, we use only organic-approved methods.
Is your honey really chemical-free?
Yes. We use no synthetic chemicals at any stage — no pesticides, no antibiotics, no paraffin wax, no copper naphthenate wood preservative. Our hives use no plastic frames, so the honey never touches plastic during production. Our production hives are never fed sugar or fondant — the bees live on their own honey, and we leave a full box of stores on every hive over winter. If treatment is ever needed, we use only organic-approved methods. We pack all our honey in glass jars — no plastic containers, no risk of chemicals leaching into your honey.
Do you feed your bees sugar?
No. Our production hives are never fed sugar or fondant. We leave a full box of honey stores on every hive over winter so the bees can feed themselves on their own honey — which is far better nutrition for them than any sugar substitute. This is a deliberate practice: we harvest only the surplus, never the bees’ winter food.
What is creamed honey?
Creamed honey is raw honey that has been gently controlled during crystallisation using the Dyce method, producing a smooth, spreadable texture. Nothing is added — it’s the same pure honey, just in a different form. Ours is made from our own multifloral raw honey, hand-bottled in small batches.
About our bees & rescue
Where do you rescue bees?
We cover Berwick and surrounding suburbs within about 8 km for bee rescue callouts — including Narre Warren, Narre Warren North, Narre Warren South, Beaconsfield, Beaconsfield Upper, Officer, Harkaway, Clyde, Clyde North, Cranbourne, Cranbourne North, Hampton Park, Hallam, Endeavour Hills and Eumemmerring. If you’re outside this area, get in touch and we’ll try to help or point you to someone who can.
What happens when you rescue a bee colony?
Every rescue is different — a swarm on a fence post is quick; a colony inside a wall cavity can take hours. The goal is always the same: safely relocate the entire colony (queen, workers, brood and comb) into a proper hive so they can continue living. We never exterminate. Once rescued, the colony goes to one of our private apiaries across South East Melbourne, where we monitor and manage it long-term. Every colony we keep was rescued — we don’t buy bees.
How are your hives managed?
To the highest standard we can hold ourselves to. Our sites are free from pesticides and insecticides, landfill, and agricultural crops. We use no copper naphthenate wood preservative, no plastic frames, no paraffin. Our hives are stationary — never trucked, never used for commercial pollination. We use fully insulated Finnish hives (high-density EPS, roughly R7–R8 — around 6–12× the thermal protection of a standard timber hive), Australian wax foundation, and no synthetic chemicals. If mite treatment is ever needed, we use only organic-approved methods.
How does buying honey fund rescue?
Bee rescue takes real time, equipment and ongoing hive management. The honey, beeswax and other products from our rescued colonies help fund the next rescue and keep the whole operation sustainable. So every jar you buy directly supports the rescue of another colony that might otherwise be exterminated.
Products
What products do you sell?
Raw multifloral honey (500g and 1kg), creamed honey (500g and 1kg), cut comb honeycomb (100g, 200g, 400g), full frames of capped honeycomb, raw unprocessed propolis, pure beeswax ingots, hand-dipped beeswax taper candles (thick and thin), beeswax tea lights (round, heart, star and hexagon shapes), handmade beeswax figurines, and Octocosmetics natural skincare including organic deodorant. See the full range in our shop.
What is the beeswax used for?
Our pure cappings beeswax is sold as ingots for your own craft use — candle making, beeswax wraps, cosmetics, woodworking, leather care, or any project that calls for real beeswax. It’s gently rendered and double-filtered from our own rescued hives’ cappings. We also hand-dip taper candles and hand-pour tea lights from the same wax.
What is the Octocosmetics range?
Octocosmetics is a natural, naturopath-formulated skincare range that uses our beeswax as a key ingredient. The range currently includes an organic deodorant. All products are made with natural ingredients — no synthetic fragrances, no parabens.
Do you sell hives or beekeeping equipment?
No — we’re beekeepers, not a supply shop. But we do offer one-on-one beekeeping mentoring, covering everything from getting started to hive inspections and swarm management. If you’re interested, visit our Mentoring page or get in touch.
Ordering & delivery
Can I pick up instead of paying postage?
Yes — pickup from Berwick is by appointment. Just place your order online and select the local pickup option at checkout, then contact us to arrange a time. Call 0423 256 231 or email laszlo@beesfriend.com.au.
Do you post to all of Australia?
We post to all states and territories except Western Australia, Northern Territory and Tasmania. Those three are excluded due to current biosecurity restrictions on bee products. This is a legal requirement to protect local bee populations from disease — we take biosecurity seriously and ask our customers to respect these restrictions too.
Why can’t you ship to WA, NT or Tasmania?
Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania have strict biosecurity controls to protect their bee populations from diseases like European Foulbrood and pests like Varroa mite. Raw honey, honeycomb, beeswax and other bee products are prohibited or restricted from entering these regions. Even though the honey is perfectly safe to eat, spores from bee diseases can survive in honey and potentially infect local hives if the container is discarded where bees can access it. We comply fully with these restrictions.
How is my order shipped?
We ship via Australia Post using flat-rate satchels and boxes. Glass jars are wrapped carefully to prevent breakage. You’ll receive tracking once your order is dispatched. We aim to dispatch within 1–2 business days.
Can I order a full frame of honeycomb online?
Full frames are available for local pickup from Berwick only — they’re too fragile to post safely. Place your order online and select local pickup, then contact us to arrange collection by appointment.
Mentoring
Do you offer beekeeping courses or mentoring?
Yes — we offer informal one-on-one beekeeping mentoring by arrangement, for serious learners. This isn’t a classroom course; it’s hands-on time with real hives, covering whatever you need — from getting started as a new beekeeper to hive inspections, swarm management, seasonal planning and disease management. Visit our Mentoring page for more detail, or call 0423 256 231.
I found a swarm — what should I do?
Don’t panic and don’t spray them. A swarm is a cluster of bees looking for a new home — they’re usually very calm because they have no hive to defend. If you’re within our service area (Berwick and surrounds within 8 km), call us on 0423 256 231 and we’ll come to collect them. If you’re further afield, your local beekeeping club can usually help — or contact Agriculture Victoria for advice.
Varroa mite & biosecurity
What is Varroa mite?
Varroa destructor is a parasitic mite that feeds on honeybees, weakening their immune system and spreading viruses through the colony. It has been present in most beekeeping countries for decades. Australia was the last major beekeeping nation without Varroa, but it was detected in NSW in 2022 and has since spread to Victoria. It’s the single biggest threat to Australian beekeeping and pollination-dependent agriculture.
How does BeesFriend manage Varroa?
We monitor mite levels through regular alcohol wash testing across all our apiaries, and we’ve developed our own biosurveillance wash form to track mite counts, GPS locations, queen age, brood status and treatment history in detail. If treatment is needed, we use only organic-approved methods — no synthetic miticides. We believe in transparent, data-driven mite management and we share what we learn with the beekeeping community.
Does Varroa affect the safety of your honey?
No. Varroa mite affects bees, not honey. The mite is species-specific to honeybees and poses no risk to humans or pets. Because we use only organic-approved treatment methods (no synthetic miticides), there is no chemical residue risk in our honey. Our honey is as pure and safe as it has always been.
Still have a question?
We’re happy to help. Call 0423 256 231 or email laszlo@beesfriend.com.au.