Assessment of Acacia monofloral honey

Abstract

This work aims to formulate scientifically based criteria for assessing the quality of acacia monofloral honey. Honey sampling, analysis of organoleptic and physicochemical parameters were carried out according to DSTU 4497:2005 "Natural honey. Technical conditions". The identification of pollen grains of honey plants was carried out according to the atlas of pollen grains. We analyzed 50 acacia honey samples that came to the laboratory from different regions of Ukraine. We found that the content of dominant pollen from acacia ranged from 5 to 25%. In terms of pollen analysis, ten acacia honey samples belong to monofloral honey. We showed that the average value of proline in acacia honey ranged from 130 mg/kg to 195±53.9 mg/kg, electrical conductivity from 0.1±0.01 mS/cm to 0.2±04 mS/cm, the ratio of fructose to glucose should be at least 1.4. The necessity is justified concerning making changes to DSTU 4497:2005 "Natural honey. Technical conditions" and harmonization with international requirements for indicators of proline concentration and electrical conductivity in honey from acacia bee. The following criteria are proposed for assessing acacia monofloral honey quality: specific composition of pollen grains, proline content, conductivity indicators, and the ratio of fructose to glucose.