CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

The objective of this study was to characterize honey produced in central dairy area of Argentina. Honey samples (134, produced from 2005/2006 to 2009/2010) were analyzed physicochemically, palynologically and by sensorial analyses. Samples were considered by farmers to be single-flowered of clover or alfalfa. The averages (±sd) of physico-chemical parameters were: humidity 16.4% (± 1.1%), pH 3.5 (± 0.4), acidity 20.8 meq/l (± 4.37 meq/l), electric conductivity 510 µs/cm (± 173 µs/cm), HMF 8.97 mg/kg (± 10.22 mg/kg), glucose and fructose concentration (30.72 g% (±5.42 g%) and 37.14 g% (±6.5 g%), respectively). Color was in extra white rank in 39% of the samples and 22% were in the extra light amber. Chemical parameters were different across the years. Thirty six botanic families were identified in the samples, but only 5 families were observed in > 50% of them (Compositae, Cruciferae, Gramineae, Mirtaceae and Leguminoseae). Alfalfa was found in 72% of the samples; however pollen was of a minor importance in 81% of the cases. Clover pollen (Trifolim sp., Melilotus sp., Lotus sp. and Medicago sativa) were observed in 89% of the samples, but only in 8% of the cases was >45%, percentage required to be considered as single-flowered honey according to the National Legislation (SAGPyA. Nº 1051/94 and its amended 274/95). When clover pollen constituted ≥20% of the total pollen, chemical changes were observed and non-statistic differences were observed between honeys with 20-45% and those with >45% of clover pollen. Honeys ≥20% of clover pollen showed (in comparison with honeys <20% of clover pollen) lower humidity (16.1 vs. 16.8%), color (32.1 vs. 53.1), acidity (19.8 vs. 22.5 meq/l), glucose (29.9 vs. 32.0 g%) and fructose (35.9 vs. 39.4 g%). Presence of ≥20% of clover pollen induces changes in the honey characteristics; nonetheless, this should be confirmed by sensorial analysis.

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