Royal jelly is a white, thick substance with a distinct smell and acidic taste. It is secreted by the hypopharyngeal glands of worker bees to feed the queen and larvae for the first three days of their life.

In comparison to worker bees, which are fed a mixture of nectar and pollen after the first three days from birth, the larvae destined to become queens continue to be exclusively fed royal jelly. As a result, they develop in a shorter period of time, with a larger overall size and weight than workers, and a fully developed genetic system that allows them to lay thousands of eggs daily. Another significant difference between queens and workers, solely due to their diet of royal jelly, is their prolonged lifespan, which averages 4-5 years and can reach up to 8, while workers live only 1-4 months.

Its beneficial properties are not limited to the development, morphology, and lifespan of queens. The benefits of royal jelly on human health have been known since ancient times. According to Greek mythology, it was also a key ingredient of ambrosia, which granted immortality to the gods of Olympus in combination with honey.

The color of royal jelly is particularly significant because it indicates its suitability and freshness. Fresh royal jelly has a bright white color, which changes to light yellow and dark gray if it comes into contact with oxygen or is exposed to light due to its content of unsaturated fatty acids, enzymes, and hormones, which are vulnerable under these conditions. For this reason, it is stored in dark-colored and opaque glass bottles that protect it from air and light. Additionally, contact with metal tools should be avoided as they can alter royal jelly.

Cases of allergies to royal jelly have been observed, and according to studies, individuals with asthma are at greater risk.