Your bee revival kit has been on your keys for a year. Is the syrup still good? As a rule, refresh the syrup every twelve months. Cloudiness is the clearest sign it is time for a refill.
How to check your syrup
A quick look tells you most of what you need.
- Colour: fresh syrup is clear to pale. Dark syrup is past its best.
- Clarity: clear and bright is good. Cloudy or murky means replace it.
- Smell: a clean, faint sweetness is fine. A sour or off smell means replace it.
What affects shelf life
Heat, light, and damp all shorten the life of the syrup. A kit left on a sunny windowsill or in a hot car will turn sooner. Keep your kit out of direct sun and away from heat. Stored well, the syrup holds for about twelve months.
Does it expire?
The syrup degrades rather than expires. It does not become dangerous the way fresh food does. Over time the formula loses potency and clarity. A yearly refresh keeps it at full strength for the bees that need it.
What if you use old syrup?
Old syrup on a tired bee is unlikely to harm it. It may be less effective once it has lost its strength. Fresh syrup gives a bee the best chance, so a refill is worth it.
When to refill
Check your syrup at the start of spring, before bees are out in numbers. Top up again after a heavy-use summer. For the method, see our refill guide. Keeping your save a bee kit fresh means you are always ready to help. Here is reviving a bee with your kit.
Top up your kit
One bee revival kit refill bottle fills your keyring several times over and lasts the whole season.