Physicochemical quality indicators of acacia honey produced in Ukraine

Abstract

Goal. To study the organoleptic and physicochemical properties of acacia honey, to establish their compliance with the current regulatory documents that determine the quality and originality of the product. Methods. The analysis of organoleptic and physicochemical indicators of 45 samples of honey from different regions of Ukraine was carried out by the methods recommended by DSTU 4497:2005. Results. It was established that the mass fraction of water in the studied honey samples ranged from 15.8 to 20% with an average value of 17.7±1.2%. Studies fixed that the diastase activity of 44 honey samples ranged from 6.07 to 22.4 Gote units with an average value of 12.7±4.0 Gote units. In 31 samples, the share of acacia pollen grains varied in the range from 10 to 39%, and in 12 samples - in the range from 3 to 9%, which gave reason to identify the honey as polyfloral (various herbs). The electrical conductivity of 44 studied honey samples varied from 0.116 to 0.382 mS/cm, and the proline content in them was 127.0–344.7 mg/kg. Conclusions. It was established that 44 samples of honey met the requirements of domestic and international regulatory documents according to such quality criteria as moisture, HMF content, color, and electrical conductivity, and one sample did not. 23 samples contained from 20 to 39% of dominant acacia pollen, in 8 samples its amount was equal to 10–20%, and in 13 samples it was less than 10%. It was confirmed that 23 samples belonged to monofloral acacia honey according to organoleptic and physicochemical indicators and the content of dominant pollen (more than 20%).