Palynological, Physicochemical and Sensorial Characteristics of Honey Lemon (Citrus) Tucumán (Argentine)

CIAPPINI, M.C.; GURINI, L.; LUPO L.; SANCHEZ A.; RIOS F.; LOBO M.

Buenos Aires

Congreso; 42º Congreso Internacional de Apicultura- Apimondia 2011; 2011

Federación Internacional de Asociaciones Apícolas

The aim of this study was to identify the physicochemical characteristics and sensory attributes that may contribute to the characterization of lemon honey. From 61 samples harvested in 2007 and 2008 from Tucumán (Argentina), 64% contained 15% or more of Citrus lemon pollen, according to the melisopalinological analysis (Loveaux, 1978). Sixty morphological types of secondary pollen were found, mainly Cercidium sp., Salix sp., Heliotropium sp., spp. Moraceae, Convolvulaceae and Asteraceae. The physicochemical parameters analyzed showed the following average values: 17.19 ± 0.68% moisture (IHC 2002), 0.11 ± 0.04% ash (AOAC 900.02), 0.10 ± 0.12 insoluble solids (IRAM 15 936), 72,46 ± 3,81% reducing sugars, 76,56 ± 3,23% total sugars and 4.02 ± 1.54% apparent sucrose (IRAM 15934), 22.5 ± 9.1 DN diastase activity (DIN 10 750), Color (Pfund colorimeter) between 15 and 36 mm, 17.34 ± 3.39 meq / kg acidity (AOAC 962.19), 3.91 ± 0.07 pH (potentiometric method), 18.36 + 5.93 mg / kg Hidroxy Methyl Furfural (IRAM 15037-2) and 0.42 + 0.08 mS/cm conductivity (IRAM 15 945). A seven-member sensory panel selected, trained and monitored according to ISO 8586, performed honeys sensory evaluation. Lemon honeys showed high fluidity and crystallization incipient with very small crystals, subtle in the mouth; floral, low intensity odor, floral aroma, low or moderate sweetness and it was perceived a slight sour note when the percentage of Citrus lemon pollen exceeded 15%. Slight warm, toasted and malty notes were found in samples where Eucalyptus pollen was over the 40%. Furthermore, when the Eucalyptus and Asteraceae percentage was increased, the panelists observed a color increase according to the instrumental analysis. Instead, sensory attributes of color and aroma were not modified by Convulvaceae pollen presence. Sensory results indicated consistency between samples defined as monofloral lemon honeys.