What’s the Difference Between Royal Jelly and Honey?

When most people think of bees, the first thing that comes to mind is honey. But there’s another remarkable substance produced in the hive that’s often overlooked—royal jelly. While both honey and royal jelly come from bees, they serve very different purposes and offer unique benefits. At Fresh Royal Jelly, we’re here to break down the key differences and help you understand why royal jelly deserves a spot in your daily wellness routine.

1. What Are They, Exactly?

Honey is a sweet, sticky substance made by bees from flower nectar. It’s stored in honeycombs and used as a food source for the colony.

Royal jelly, on the other hand, is a creamy-white secretion produced by nurse bees. It’s not made from nectar—it's made in the glands of worker bees and is fed exclusively to the queen bee throughout her life, as well as to all bee larvae for their first few days.

2. What’s in Them?

Honey is made up primarily of natural sugars like glucose and fructose, along with small amounts of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Royal jelly contains a rich blend of:

  • Proteins and amino acids

  • Fatty acids

  • B vitamins (especially B5 and B6)

  • Trace minerals

  • A unique protein called royalactin, thought to help develop queen bees

This powerhouse nutritional profile is why royal jelly is often considered a superfood.

3. What Do They Do for Us?

Honey is known for its soothing and antimicrobial properties. It’s great for a sore throat, a natural sweetener, and even a gentle skin remedy.

Royal jelly, however, has a reputation for supporting energy, fertility, hormonal balance, skin health, and immunity. While scientific research is still evolving, many people use royal jelly as a natural supplement for boosting vitality and overall wellness.

4. How Are They Used?

Honey is typically used in food and drink—drizzled over toast, stirred into tea, or used in baking.

Royal jelly is most effective when taken fresh and raw—not freeze-dried or heavily processed. At Fresh Royal Jelly, we provide premium quality chilled fresh royal jelly straight from the hive to your door across the UK, preserving all its natural enzymes and nutrients.

5. One Queen, One Diet

Here’s a fun fact: all bee larvae are genetically the same at birth. But only the one fed royal jelly exclusively becomes queen. That’s the power of this extraordinary substance. The queen lives longer, grows larger, and becomes the mother of the entire colony—all thanks to her royal diet.

 

At Fresh Royal Jelly, we believe that everyone deserves access to this rare and potent natural supplement in its purest form. Whether you’re new to royal jelly or already enjoying its benefits, we’re proud to supply UK customers with fresh, chilled royal jelly delivered with care.

Curious to try it for yourself? Browse our products and bring the queen bee’s secret weapon into your daily routine.

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