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 trehalose – 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 mystery since the discovery of high levels of sugar trehalose in stingless bee honey.