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Propolis is a resinous material produced by honey bees from plant exudates collected from buds, bark, stems, leaves and wounded tissues. Worker bees transport these resins to the hive and combine them with salivary secretions, enzymes, beeswax and minor quantities of pollen, forming an adhesive material used to seal cracks, reinforce internal surfaces, narrow hive openings and coat exposed cavities. Raw propolis retains the chemical imprint of its plant source and the biological modification introduced by the colony. Its composition therefore varies with vegetation, climate, season, bee population and local ecology, with plant resins and balsamic substances forming the principal fraction and waxes, aromatic compounds, pollen and other natural hive materials forming the remaining matrix. The commercial character of propolis is determined at the apiary level. Resin producing vegetation must occur within the normal foraging range of active colonies, while temperature, rainfall, humidity, soil conditions, altitude and seasonal plant growth determine resin availability and collection periods. Warm conditions generally soften plant resins and increase bee collection activity. Prolonged rainfall reduces foraging time, and extended dry periods can alter resin secretion and vegetation density. Colony genetics also affect collection behavior. Africanized honey bees used across much of Brazil display strong defensive and resin gathering behavior, while European lineages account for a large share of production in temperate regions. Hive design, colony strength, grid configuration and harvest frequency influence output, yet the underlying botanical environment remains the primary determinant of propolis identity. Temperate propolis is widely associated with poplar species across Europe, North America and parts of Asia. Poplar buds supply flavonoids, phenolic acids and aromatic esters that define the most common European chemical profile. Birch, alder, willow, conifer and other regional plants contribute additional local types. Tropical production reflects a wider botanical base and produces chemically distinct materials that cannot be classified by color alone. Brazilian green propolis, Brazilian red propolis, Mediterranean propolis, birch propolis, Pacific propolis and poplar type propolis represent the principal commercially recognized groups, each associated with a defined vegetation zone and a characteristic set of plant compounds. Brazilian green propolis is the most internationally recognized tropical type and one of the most important products in the global propolis trade. Its principal botanical source is Baccharis dracunculifolia, a native shrub commonly known in Brazil as alecrim do campo. The young shoots and leaf surfaces of this plant provide the resin collected by bees. The resulting propolis contains prenylated phenylpropanoids, including artepillin C, which has become the principal chemical marker used in the commercial identification of green propolis. The combination of a traceable plant source, a recognizable chemical profile, established extraction technology and long standing export demand has given green propolis a distinct position in finished supplements, liquid extracts and oral sprays. Minas Gerais is the central commercial region for Brazilian green propolis. Production is concentrated in inland areas where Baccharis dracunculifolia occurs naturally across grassland, pasture margins and disturbed vegetation. The state combines warm seasonal conditions, elevated interior terrain, extensive rural land, established beekeeping activity and access to Africanized honey bee colonies. These conditions support repeated resin collection over commercially useful periods and allow apiaries to operate near dense stands of the source plant. São Paulo, Paraná and adjacent southeastern areas also contribute green propolis, while Minas Gerais remains the region most closely associated with its international identity and export supply. Brazilian red propolis originates principally from coastal and mangrove environments in northeastern Brazil, especially areas where Dalbergia ecastophyllum grows. Its red color and chemical profile derive from isoflavonoids and related plant compounds transferred from the resin source. Red propolis occupies a smaller commercial base and commands interest in specialized extracts and premium formulations. Brown propolis is produced across broader areas of Brazil from multiple botanical sources and accounts for a substantial part of general raw propolis supply. Its composition varies more widely by region and season. Green, red and brown classifications therefore describe botanical and chemical origin, with commercial value determined by extract yield, chemical identity, supply consistency and downstream demand. Propolis is harvested from hive surfaces by scraping or from removable plastic collection grids installed inside the hive. Grid collection creates narrow spaces that bees fill with resin and produces cleaner, more uniform raw material after cooling and mechanical release. Scraped propolis contains a larger proportion of wax, wood particles and aged hive material and requires more extensive sorting. Harvested material is cooled, broken and consolidated by origin and season before sale to processors. Beekeepers, cooperatives and specialized collectors supply domestic extraction companies and international buyers, with Brazil, China, New Zealand, Turkey and several European countries forming important production and processing bases. Industrial extraction converts raw propolis into a form suitable for formulation. The raw material is milled and contacted with ethanol, water, glycerol, propylene glycol or another approved extraction medium. Ethanol remains the principal commercial solvent because it dissolves a broad fraction of phenolic and aromatic resin compounds. The liquid extract is separated from insoluble solids, cooled to precipitate wax, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting material may remain as a liquid extract, proceed to a viscous concentrate or be converted into a dry powder. Water soluble and alcohol free systems use modified extraction and dispersion methods to maintain active resin fractions in liquid form. Dry extracts are commonly blended with carriers to improve flow, dispersion and incorporation into capsules, tablets, sachets and other solid products. Finished propolis products are manufactured as capsules, liquid drops, tinctures, oral sprays, throat sprays, tablets, lozenges, syrups, gummies, drinkable vials and mixed bee product formulations. Capsules use dry or concentrated extracts and provide a fixed oral dose. Liquids preserve the extract in ethanol, glycerol, water based or mixed solvent systems and allow flexible dosing. Sprays deliver diluted extract directly to the mouth or throat and require stable dispersion through the pump system. Tablets and lozenges combine propolis with sweeteners, binders, flavoring agents and complementary botanical ingredients. Product value is determined by the quantity and concentration of extract, botanical origin, extraction ratio, formulation type, package format and brand distribution. The industry links dispersed apiary production with increasingly concentrated extraction and finished product manufacturing. Raw propolis production remains dependent on local vegetation and colony management, while extraction requires dedicated vessels, solvent handling, filtration, concentration and drying equipment. Finished product manufacturing adds formulation, encapsulation, liquid filling, spray packaging and retail distribution. Brazil supplies a significant share of internationally traded green and red propolis. China combines large domestic beekeeping output with extensive capsule and health product manufacturing. New Zealand participates through branded bee product companies with integrated sourcing and consumer distribution. Japan and South Korea remain important premium consumption and product development markets, particularly for Brazilian green propolis. Turkey has expanded through contract beekeeping, domestic extraction and branded supplements, while European manufacturers maintain strong positions in liquid extracts, sprays, lozenges and pharmacy oriented products. Commercial demand is concentrated in oral supplements and upper respiratory care formats. Capsules and liquid extracts account for the broadest daily use, while sprays and lozenges occupy the mouth and throat segment. Online retail has expanded access to specialist brands and imported products, while pharmacies, drugstores, health stores, supermarkets and direct sales networks remain important for established consumer brands. Brand ownership and physical manufacturing are frequently separated. Large supplement companies may purchase standardized extracts and use contract manufacturers, while specialist propolis companies may control apiary sourcing, extraction, formulation and finished product sales within one operating group.
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