Quality Profile of Several Monofloral Romanian Honeys

Abstract

The objective of this research was to evaluate some quality-defining physicochemical parameters (moisture, specific gravity, pH, free acidity, ash, electrical conductivity, total phenols, and total flavonoids content, K, Ca, Mg, Na, and P) of seven Romanian monofloral honeys (linden, acacia, rapeseed, sunflower, mint, raspberry, and chestnut) collected in 2017. The investigated quality parameters are mainly within the recommended limits set by standards for honey. Sample analyses indicate the presence of antioxidants, such as TPC (17.9–73.2 mg GAE/100 g) and TFC (0.84–4.81 mg QE/100 g), and high amounts of K (101–1462 mg kg−1), Ca (58.3–167.5 mg kg−1), Mg (24.8–330.6 mg kg−1), Na (94.5–233.3 mg kg−1), and P (34.1–137.2 mg kg−1). The Pearson’s correlations between some parameters (such as color/TFC, color/Mg, color/P, EC/Ash, mm Pfund/TFC, TPC/TFC, K/Ash, P/Mg), together with PCA, HCA, and ANOVA statistics, highlight three main factors that explain the variability in the dataset and could be attributed to stability, mineral, and color/antioxidant contributions. FTIR spectra confirm the authenticity of all the monofloral honeys. The results and data processing confirm the influence of environmental elements (soil, water, air) on the honey composition and highlight the quality of honey, as a complete food and a therapeutic product.

Selected Characteristics of Multifloral Honeys from North-Eastern Romania

“…The color of multifloral honey samples varied from 14.5 mm Pfund (white) to 69.7 mm Pfund (light amber) in both areas I and II (Tables 2 and 3). Much research found different colors of the same type of honey: color varied from 0.1 mm Pfund in Romanian acacia honey [38] to 20.0 mm Pfund in Serbian acacia honey [35]; Bodor et al 2021 [36] noted large differences in the color of the Hungarian samples within the same botanical group (linden), from 38.27 mm Pfund to 139.48 mm Pfund. For monofloral honey, in general, it is known that acacia honey is light-colored and chestnut honey is dark-colored; for polyflora honey, the color is given by a large number of pollen types.…”

Multi-Element Profile Characterization of Monofloral and Polyfloral Honey from Latvia

“…• is higher than reports of Ethiopian [54] and Serbian honey [21]; • could be considered the same-but with higher means-as Estonian [55], Yemenian [56], Moroccan [57], Argentinian [58], Brazilian, and Portuguese honey [59]; • could be considered the same-but with lower means-as Polish [60][61][62], Slovenian flower [63], Hungarian linden [64], Romanian linden [65], Bulgarian linden [66], Italian [67], Malaysian [68], and New Zealand honey [69];…”

“…• could be considered the same-but with lower means-as Polish [60][61][62], Slovenian flower [63], Hungarian linden [64], Romanian linden [65], Bulgarian linden [66], Italian [67], Malaysian [68], and New Zealand honey [69];…”

Animal Nutrition and Productions

“…Thus, Pop I.M. et al [21] evaluated 7 monofloral honey varieties (linden, acacia, rapeseed, sunflower, mint, raspberry and chestnut) from a physicalchemical point of view (moisture, specific gravity, pH, free acidity, ash, electrical conductivity, total phenols and total flavonoid content, K, Ca, Mg, Na and P). The quality parameters that were investigated fell within the recommended limits established by the regulated standards.…”