Reduction in moisture content of dehumidified and microwave-heated stingless bee (Kelulut) honey and its quality

Abstract

A natural elixir regurgitated by bees, honey contained many functional compounds that are of benefit to human kind. Trigona spp. or known as stingless bee honey (Kelulut honey) is a natural product unique in Malaysia that reported to has higher nutritional values. However, higher moisture content in Kelulut honey (normally more than 30%) has influenced its durability and quality concerning the risk of spoilage due to fermentation. In this research work, the application of dehumidification and microwave treatment on Kelulut honey in reducing its moisture content was investigated. The results showed that, a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in moisture content was reported for both treatment as compared to untreated. The lowest moisture content was found by dehumidified sample on second day of treatment with 17.21 ± 1.32% (45% reduction as compared to untreated). A significant increased of 43.8% in total phenolic content (as compared to untreated) was recorded when the samples were treated at higher power level (60PL) and longer treatment time (60 s).