How to Collect Pine Pollen? Latest Technical Method Tutorial

Pine pollen is the male reproductive cell (i.e. sperm cell) of plants in the genus Pinus of the family Pinaceae, such as masson pine and Chinese pine. It is commonly called pollen. Mature pollen is dispersed by wind and air currents to complete pollination and fertilization. It not only contains the genetic information of life, but also contains all the nutrients needed for human life and longevity. Now let us take a look at the collection technique for pine pollen!

Collection Time for Pine Pollen

The flowering period of masson pine and Chinese pine in China is delayed in sequence from south to north. In Yunnan it is around March, in western Henan it is in mid-April, and in Northeast China it is around June. In the same region, the flowering period is also delayed as altitude increases. For example, in Songxian, Luanchuan and other places in western Henan, mid-mountain areas above 1000 m in altitude flower 7-10 days later than low-mountain areas at around 500 m in altitude. Moreover, in the same location, the flowering period in different years may differ by about 10 days due to factors such as the amount of precipitation and high or low temperatures. In a given region, the collection time for pine pollen generally lasts only 10-15 days. Therefore, you must observe diligently and pay close attention to the growth of the male cone spikes in order to determine the suitable collection period for pine pollen. When the color of the small flower grains on most of the spikes changes from green to yellow, picking should begin.

Selection of Pine Pollen Spikes

1. Mature spikes are slightly yellow, the flower grains are slightly loose, and when the grains are lightly rubbed by hand there is basically no sap and yellow pollen can be shaken out. This kind of spike is most suitable for picking, and the pollen yield is about 8-9%.

2. Immature spikes are green in color. When the grains are rubbed by hand they are hard and release sap, and after drying in the sun they produce no pollen. They are also not easy to dry and are prone to mold.

3. Over-mature spikes are yellow-white, and the flower grains are loose. When picked, the pollen scatters in clouds, and the pollen content is very low.

4. Spikes that have already withered are old yellow or dark brown. Most of the pollen has already dispersed and fallen, so they have no collection value.

Initial Processing Technique for Pine Pollen

1. Drying site: Pine pollen is a raw material for medicines and health foods. The threshing and processing site for the spikes should be a clean, sunny, dry and level cement surface, brick surface, etc. The roof of a rural single-story house can also be used, with a layer of plastic film spread on top. The spike processing site can simply be outdoors. Generally, 1 sq m of site can dry 15-20 kg of spikes.

2. Drying method: The spikes brought back should immediately be spread evenly on the plastic film to a thickness of 10-20 cm. If too thick, they easily become sour and moldy. Under conditions of sufficient light and natural ventilation for moisture removal, after about 3 days the pine pollen will scatter onto the plastic film.

3. Rough sieving: Pass the pollen that has fallen during drying through a 60-80 mesh sieve by hand. The sieve specifications are 90×60×10 cm. The sieve bottom is fastened as a double layer, with ordinary plastic window screen below and a 60-80 mesh stainless steel sieve mesh above. Under the sieve, attach a large plastic bag with its lower end tied shut. Two people shake the sieve, so that the pollen falls into the plastic bag. Covering the sieve with cotton cloth can prevent the light pine pollen from scattering in the wind. If conditions permit, a mechanical vibrating sieve can be used, which can significantly improve efficiency.

4. Pollen dehumidification: The moisture content of pine pollen after rough sieving is generally 15-25%, and it very easily molds and turns sour, so it needs timely dehumidification. For small-scale processing, spread the coarse pollen from the plastic bag out evenly again to dry, to a thickness of about 5 cm. Be careful to stir it promptly and strictly prevent strong wind from blowing it away.

5. Fine sieving: When the moisture content of the pine pollen reaches the required level, pass it through a fine sieve of the specified mesh to remove impurities. Generally, producing grade-one pine pollen requires passing through a 200 mesh sieve, and producing grade-two pine pollen requires passing through a 160 mesh fine sieve. The site for fine sieving should be selected indoors, in a relatively enclosed and clean place. For small-volume processing, manual sieving is used; for large-scale production, a vibrating screening machine can be used for sieving.

6. Scientific storage: Put the qualified pine pollen after fine sieving into food-grade non-toxic polyethylene plastic bags. The bag specifications are 40×100 cm. After doubling the bags, each bag can hold 12-15 kg of pine pollen. Let it stand for more than half an hour, squeeze out the air in the bag, then tie the bag mouth tightly and store it temporarily indoors in a cool, dry place for sale. If it is to be stored for a long time, a constant-temperature mechanical cold storage at 1-5 °C should be used. After 3 years of storage, it can still maintain its appearance, color and biological activity.