I have been meaning to make this dessert seasoning spice mix for some time now, ever since I stumbled upon something similar at our local Farmers Market.
This past summer I started taking local bee pollen to help with my seasonal allergies, and I have been trying to find some creative and tasty ways to incorporate it into my diet. So when Pollen Ranch, a local farm, started selling “pollen spice mixes” I immediately fell in love with the concept!
One of my favorite spice mixes they sell is a dessert seasoning spice mix, perfect for sprinkling on fresh fruit or topping on yogurt, ice cream, or baked goodies. I wrote down the main ingredients in my favorite mix they sell, and then tweaked the ingredient list to my particular taste (adding red clover and clove, for instance), and of course I had to guess and experiment over quantities of each spice in the recipe.
This spice mix is great for simple, healthy, delicious snacks. It’s a vibrant aromatic blend of ten unique spices, each with medicinal and powerful health enhancing properties. Check it out!
How to Make It:
1 tablespoon of bee pollen
½ teaspoon of dried red clover
1/2 teaspoon of grated orange peel
½ teaspoon of crystalized ginger
¼ teaspoon of cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon of allspice
1/8 teaspoon of cloves
Dash of mace
Dash of cayenne
Either add the ingredients to a spice grinder, or use a mortar and pestle to grind down the larger spice elements. Mix all the finely ground spices together, and mix well.
Sprinkle the spice mix over fresh fruit and let sit for a minute or two before eating.
You could also add the spices to apple pie, carrot cake, cookies or any other baking recipe. This mix can replace cinnamon in any recipe.
Why Bee Pollen in the Spice Mix?
Bee pollen is the magic ingredient in this spice mix. Bee pollen is the food of the young bee and is approximately 40% protein. It is considered one of nature’s most completely nourishing foods because it contains nearly all nutrients required by humans. Bee-gathered pollens are rich in proteins, free amino acids, and vitamins, including B-complex and folic acid. About half of its protein is in the form of free amino acids that are ready to be used directly by the body, so this ingredient is rightfully known as a super food.
Just one teaspoon dose of pollen takes one bee working eight hours a day for one month to gather. Each bee pollen pellet contains over two million flower pollen grains and one teaspoonful contains over 2.5 billion grains of flower pollen.
Medicinally, bee pollen is used for:
– Improving endurance and vitality
– Extending longevity
– Aiding recovery from chronic illness
– Reducing cravings and addictions
– Regulating the intestines
– Preventing infectious diseases such as the cold and flu (it has antibiotic type properties)
– Reducing effects of hay fever and seasonal allergies
One of the most interesting facts about bee pollen is that it cannot be synthesized in a laboratory. When researchers take away a bee’s pollen-filled comb and feed her man made pollen, the bee dies even though all the known nutrients are present in the lab-produced synthesized food. Many thousands of chemical analyses of bee pollen have been made with the very latest diagnostic equipment, but there are still some elements present in bee pollen that science cannot identify. The bees add some mysterious “extra” of their own. These unidentifiable elements may very well be the reason bee pollen works so spectacularly against so many diverse conditions of ill health.
I have never heard of such a mix. It sounds amazing though! Where does one pick up bee pollen?
I get my pee pollen from a local bee farm at our Farmers Market.. if you are taking it for allergy relief, it works best if its from local plants / flowers. But you can also buy some online!
From some years, I started taking bee pollen in my smoothies and I love’em! I like your idea dessert spice mix! never heard before!
Yeah, I was going to try putting it in my smoothies or yogurt.. so far, I’d only been taking bee pollen by the teaspoon! lol.. I’m hoping this spice mix will inspire me to use it more often!
Ahh interesting..I’ll try this and let you know how it went 🙂 But not sure if I can get bee pollen…Any alternatives?
You can use any pollen (dill pollen is what Pollen Ranch uses primarily) but bee pollen is pretty unique in it’s particular properties and taste!
I have never tried bee pollen… I like that it is as easy as just sprinkling on your fruit… I will have to try this out… now to just find it xox
Hmmm that looks delicious! Great article!
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It sounds like a great spice mix!
I’ve never heard of bee pollen! What an interesting idea to make a dessert spice mix. Have you found that the bee pollen has really helped your allergies?
I have only been taking it for a short while now, and this isn’t the allergy season that really provokes my allergies, so it’s hard to say right now.. I’ll weigh in on it closer to summer / fall!
So cool- I’ve never had bee pollen before!
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
I’ve never tried bee pollen, but I have some serious allergy issues. I’m going to ask my doctor about it.
Did it help you?
I have noticed some improvement, but that could just be because I’m pregnant. I mentioned to my doctor that I hadn’t needed my inhaler in a long time, and he said that when you are pregnant your immunity drops (so your body doesn’t attack the growing baby) and this usually translates into less allergic reactions and asthma (since that’s just your bodies immune system kicking in).. soooo I’ll have to give it another year before I weigh in.. in the meantime, it’s a great and healthy superfood if anything!
i’ve never tried bee pollen in food before–that i know of anyway!
I just Googled bee pollen. Interesting! It takes a lot of work to make this stuff! As a vegan, I don’t eat honey, or bee pollen, although I’m going to say that I have no problem with honey that comes from local bee keepers. I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that this spice blend is delicious without the bee pollen. I’m going to try it.
I didn’t realize that bee pollen and honey was off-limits for vegans! I thought it was just animal products, as in, coming FROM the animals… since bees just collect the honey and pollen, it’s more of an animal gathered food. That’s interesting, I learned something new today!
I know, I was surprised to learn that too! I’m not as strict about that rule. If I know that the honey comes from a local bee keeper who actually cares about his bees I don’t see a problem with it.
We are very lucky to live in an area where there are tons of orchards and tons of beekeepers, all of which seem to take a keen interest in the wellfare of their swarms. In fact, because of the drought and pesticides being used in the orchards, our bees are currently in a bit of a crises. Local gardeners (myself included) are intentionally growing bee-friendly plants to help the local bees.. it’s sad! Most people don’t realize how using chemicals is hurting the ecosystem here.. 🙁
I really like this recipe for spice mix, I haven’t heard about it, but I have to try this out, thank you for sharing 🙂
http://crafty-zone.blogspot.com/
Looks delicious!
Lovely photos!
Have a nice day!
xo from Italy,
Sonia Verardo
http://www.trenchcollection.com/
very interesting! I have never heard of bee pollen before!
Really?! It’s getting quite big in health circles…
I love the sound of this. I’ve read so much about the benefits of bee pollen but I’ve never really known what to do with it. This sounds really tasty so I’ll definitely be giving it a try, thanks for posting x
Do let me know what you think of it when you give it a try! <3
Gingi I’m pinch hitting for my wife who has the stomach flu. Wow I never knew bee pollen could help my allergies. I need to try this ASAP!
Ohhh no! I hope Laura feels better soon!!! Tell her I am sending over virtual chicken noodle soup!! hehe!
I’ve seen bee pollen but have never used it before. This spice mix sounds tasty, especially on those strawberries!
:] // ▲ itsCarmen.com ▲
Wow, what an unusual mixture! Love the idea of the bee pollen!
Looks so yummy!
http://www.girlandthepolkadot.com/
It is!
Love your content! good job!!
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re your comment:
the first will give more coverage, if that’s what you desire. a CC cream is much lighter.
Thanks!! I think I’ll go with the “more coverage” hehe..
Crazy genius idea to make dessert spice mix!! Never ever thought of doing this! Thanks for the inspiration! 🙂
Looks amazing! I would love to try this out!
Melanie @ meandmr.com
That’s a very new spice blend, I hadn’t come across anything like it before. With red clover you mean the flower right? What are the benefits of dried clover? I wish I had a jar full of this, amazing stuff, thanks for sharing!
I wrote a bit about the benefits of red clover in this blog post, if you want to check it out: http://domesticgeekgirl.com/food-recipes/red-clover-herbal-tea-cleansing-wellness/
If you try this mix, do let me know what you think!
This is genial, I’ve never thought about it. I love to mix flavours and this sounds like a perfect way to go
xxx
mari
http://www.ilovegreeninspiration.com
I have recently been reading up on bee pollen and I have heard some amazing things about it.
Oh we’ve been using bee pollen all childhood, mixed with honey and nuts – 1 table spoon every morning boosts the immune system like crazy) Great spices mix, saving it to retry later on!
http://www.stripesnvibes.com
MMMMmmmmm, I bet honey and pollen drenched trail mix would be AWESOME!!
What a good idea! I’ve never had bee pollen before, but I’d totally try it!
You should!! It’s quite good!!
Allergy season hasn’t hit yet, but I know it’s close so I’m curious as to how it turns out.
Also love hearing about bee pollen and its effects on humans!
Wow, I’ve never tried bee pollen before…I have horrible seasonal allergies, so this sounds like it would help. Also the dessert seasoning is such a great idea…thank you for sharing the recipe!
How had I never heard of this mix? Amazing!
lovejoanna.com
Let me know if you try it out!
I didn’t know that bee pollen is so nutritious and great for the human body! Thanks for sharing this information!
Prudence
http://www.prudencepetitestyle.wordpress.com
Bee pollen showed up on my radar over a year ago. In this showing up, I learned how helpful it can be for allergy sufferers. I haven’t since done any research on it, or incorporated it into our diet. Your presentation of new info on the benefits of bee pollen had me thinking more about it.
Sounds like it’d be a good addition to a diet, even in pregnancy. I’m curious, do you use it since you’ve been pregnant? 🙂
Not regularly, but I eat it as a treat now and then! ^_^
I have never heard of bee pollen being used as a seasoning before, but I am very interested in trying it! It sounds so healthy! Thank you for sharing!
Hugs!
Sarah
http://sprinklesonmyicecream.blogspot.com/
I absolutely looove been pollen. My allergies cleared up after I began taking pollen and raw honey on the regular. A spice for pollen sounds fantastic. Those strawberries look amazing.
Sounds interesting — love the idea of using it like a dessert spice! I’ve only ever tried bee pollen once. I was in university and had a very late night up before an exam. My mom felt sorry for me and wanted to help me out so she gave me a heaping tablespoon of bee pollen and said it would help fuel my brain, but it totally backfired and I ended up spending the night in the bathroom instead of studying! We both learned that night that bee pollen needs to be introduced pretty gently into a diet, and not by heaping tablespoons at a time 🙂 We had good laughs from that night though…
OMG!!! Yeah, I probably should have mentioned you need to SLOWLY build up to eating large quantities of this stuff!! haha.. if I eat too much too fast, I actually get asthma, haha!
Your seasoning mix would be perfect in… everything 😀
Off to make some now! Though finding bee pollen will be difficult!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru