The mystery of what creates the rare, healthy sugar found in stingless bee honey, has been solved by researchers at The University of Queensland, in collaboration with Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services.
The mystery of what creates the rare, healthy sugar found in stingless bee honey, has been solved by researchers at The University of Queensland, in collaboration with Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services.
The team found that the sugar trehalulose – which is not found in other honey or as a major component in other food – is produced in the gut of the bees.
UQ organic chemist and research leader, Dr Natasha Hungerford said the origin of this rare sugar had been a puzzle since the discovery of high levels of sugar trehalulose in stingless bee honey.
“We did not know if the trehalulose was coming from an external source – perhaps from native flora,” Dr Hungerford said.
Read more at: The University of Queensland
Tetragonula honey pots. (Photo Credit: Tobias Smith University of Queensland)
