Australian native stingless bee

Native Bee Propolis

Independently verifiedSingle-species Tetragonula carbonariaProfiled by independent Australian labs

Resin from Australia's native sugarbag bee, Tetragonula carbonaria. Single-species, traceable, and uniquely Australian in its chemistry.

Origin

Where it comes from

Tetragonula carbonaria is one of around eleven Australian native stingless bee species and the most commonly kept by Australian beekeepers. Unlike European honeybees introduced from Europe in the 1800s, T. carbonaria evolved alongside Australian native flora over tens of millions of years.

The bees gather plant resins from native Australian species, blend them with their own glandular secretions, and build the result into the hive structure as cerumen and propolis. Australian researchers have identified the eucalypt Corymbia torelliana as one notable resin source.

Every batch we sell is single-species, single-origin, and traceable back to the apiary.

Testing

How quality is verified

Three things get checked before any propolis goes into a bottle: species (genetic and morphological identification of the source bee), botanical origin (the resin profile of the plants the bees foraged on), and chemistry (the propolis composition itself).

Australian native bee propolis carries trimethylated phloroglucinol derivatives that researchers have so far reported only in T. carbonaria and closely related species. These compounds appear nowhere in propolis from European honeybees. Chemistry is profiled by independent Australian laboratories using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and uHPLC-QTOF MS.

These profiles tell us what is in the propolis. They do not tell us what it does inside a person.

Tradition

How it is used

First Nations communities, particularly across northern and eastern Australia, have a long-standing relationship with native stingless bees. The "sugarbag" honey and the cerumen of the hive have been gathered for ceremonial, culinary and material use for tens of thousands of years.

Modern formats are simpler: propolis extract by drops, dissolved on the tongue or stirred into warm water; or in lozenges and propolis-honey candies. It is typically stored in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.

Research

What researchers have studied

Most published research on T. carbonaria propolis is Australian-led, with research groups at the University of the Sunshine Coast and Queensland University of Technology contributing a substantial portion of the literature. Studies have looked at the chemistry of the propolis, the geographic variation in composition between Queensland and northern New South Wales hives, and the contribution of Corymbia torelliana resin to the final propolis profile.

Studies have been conducted in vitro (in laboratory conditions) rather than in everyday consumption. We list our key references below for readers who want to read the original work. We do not draw conclusions about what propolis does inside the body. Questions about diet, supplements or treatment are best directed to a qualified healthcare professional.

References

Research & references

Source material referenced on this page. We do not draw clinical conclusions from these studies; they are listed so curious readers can read the originals.

  1. Quality assessment and chemical diversity of Australian propolis from Tetragonula carbonaria and Tetragonula hockingsi stingless bees. Woods DC, Olsson MA, Heard TA, Wallace HM, Tran TD.. Scientific Reports, 2025
  2. Bioactive Polyphenolic Compounds from Propolis of Tetragonula carbonaria in the Gibberagee Region, New South Wales, Australia. Ebner DW, Woods DC, Tran TD.. Foods, 2025
  3. Phloroglucinols from anti-microbial deposit-resins of Australian stingless bees (Tetragonula carbonaria). Massaro CF, Smyth TJ, Smyth WF, Heard T, Leonhardt SD, Katouli M, Wallace HM, Brooks P.. Phytotherapy Research, 2015
  4. Cerumen of Australian stingless bees (Tetragonula carbonaria): gas chromatography-mass spectrometry fingerprints and potential anti-inflammatory properties. Massaro FC, Brooks PR, Wallace HM, Russell FD.. Naturwissenschaften, 2011
  5. Stingless bee propolis: a comprehensive review of chemical constituents and health efficacy. Alsarayrah NA, Mohamed R, Omar EA.. Natural Products and Bioprospecting, 2025

Bring it home

Shop our native bee range

John & Jill's native bee propolis is available as a raw extract, propolis lozenges, and a propolis-manuka honey blend.

John & Jill's Propolis Manuka Honey 829+

John & Jill's Propolis Manuka Honey 829+

$225.00

Manuka Honey Candy w/Native Bee Propolis

John & Jill's Manuka Honey Candy with Native Bee Propolis

$26.00

Propolis Manuka Honey 1650+

John & Jill's Propolis Manuka Honey Signature Series 1650+

$478.00

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