Obsidian Queens

Our darkest queen line. Calm to work, heavy on fragrant propolis, and happy to fly in cooler weather. The one to choose if you want calm bees with real character.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.9 | 1,011 reviews

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[ ] Standard Obsidian Queen £[PRICE]
[ ] Premium Obsidian Queen (star-mated) £[PRICE]

Dispatch Date

Quantity

[1] [+] [-]

[Add to Cart]

£9.99 UK tracked delivery (arrives next day)

✓ DASH Accredited | ✓ Bee Farmers Association Member | ✓ Healthy Delivery Guaranteed

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Why Obsidian Queens?

Obsidian Queens are the darkest bees we raise, and they've got the most character. If you love the look of a dark bee but want something calm and easy to work in a garden hive, this is the line for you. They aren't AMM, and we're upfront about that, so what you get is the dark look a lot of people love with a calm, practical temperament that suits everyday beekeeping.

The darkest bees we sell. A proper dark bee on the frame, with the look people associate with native, AMM-type bees, but bred for calm.
Calm and gentle to work. Dark bees have a reputation for being a handful. Ours aren't. Handling is right up there with our Buckfast lines, so they suit garden hives, newer beekeepers, and anyone who wants a dark bee without a difficult temperament.
Huge propolis production. Far more than a normal colony, with that gorgeous sticky, resinous smell. Brilliant for apitherapy or trapping propolis. It does make the hive a bit stickier to work, but for most Obsidian keepers that's part of the appeal.
A longer tongue, different honey. They reach nectar other bees can't, so you get your own flavour, aroma, and colour. As Laurence puts it, "you can sometimes get more, but you always get different."
Built for UK weather. They fly in cooler conditions and keep foraging in light drizzle, which keeps the colony steady through a typical British season.
A steady build-up. Slower out of the blocks than Buckfast, but steady across the whole season. If you want raw spring power, choose Buckfast. If you want a calm, dark bee with real character, Obsidian is the one.
Safe arrival guarantee. DOA queens replaced free of charge, no arguments.
Unlimited support. Help before, during, and after introduction, plus guides and videos.
Backed by Laurence's guarantee. If there's ever an issue with temperament, we'll work with you to put it right.

Standard or Premium?

There are two ways to get the Obsidian line, and both share the same core traits. Both are dark, calm, heavy on propolis, suited to UK weather, and able to work that different forage profile. Here's how to choose.