Unifloral Honeys Research Articles

Physicochemical Properties of Honey from Marche, Central Italy: Classification of Unifloral and Multifloral Honeys by Multivariate Analysis

The purpose of this study was the physicochemical characterization and classification of Italian honey from Marche Region with a chemometric approach. A total of 135 honeys of different botanical origins [acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), chestnut (Castanea sativa), coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), lime (Tilia spp.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), Metcalfa honeydew and multifloral honey] were considered. The average results of electrical conductivity (0.14-1.45 mS cm(-1)), pH (3.89-5.42), free acidity (10.9-39.0 meq(NaOH) kg(-1)), lactones (2.4-4.5 meq(NaOH) kg(-1)), total acidity (14.5-40.9 meq(NaOH) kg(-1)), proline (229-665 mg kg(-1)) and 5-(hydroxy-methyl)-2-furaldehyde (0.6-3.9 mg kg(-1)) content show wide variability among the analysed honey types, with statistically significant differences between the different honey types. Pattern recognition methods such as principal component analysis and discriminant analysis were performed in order to find a relationship between variables and types of honey and to classify honey on the basis of its physicochemical properties. The variables of electrical conductivity, acidity (free, lactones), pH and proline content exhibited higher discriminant power and provided enough information for the classification and distinction of unifloral honey types, but not for the classification of multifloral honey (100% and 85% of samples correctly classified, respectively).

Authentication of the botanical origin of unifloral honey by infrared spectroscopy coupled with support vector machine algorithm

In recent years, the potential of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy coupled with different chemometric tools in food analysis has been established. This technique is rapid, low cost, and reliable and requires little sample preparation. In this work, 130 Serbian unifloral honey samples (linden, acacia, and sunflower types) were analyzed using attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR). For each spectrum, 64 scans were recorded in wavenumbers between 4000 and 500 cm−1 and at a spectral resolution of 4 cm−1. These spectra were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA), and calculated principal components were then used for support vector machine (SVM) training. In this way, the pattern-recognition tool is obtained for building a classification model for determining the botanical origin of honey. The PCA was used to analyze results and to see if the separation between groups of different types of honeys exists. Using the SVM, the classification model was built and classification errors were acquired. It has been observed that this technique is adequate for determining the botanical origin of honey with a success rate of 98.6%. Based on these results, it can be concluded that this technique offers many possibilities for future rapid qualitative analysis of honey.

Pollen Studies of East Texas Honey

Since the beginning of honey production, certain honey types have been favored because they taste better, are better for cooking or do not rapidly crystallize. Thus, they are preferred over others, are in high demand and are sold at higher prices. The pollen of 37 honey samples from East Texas was examined. Pollen was recovered from the honey by using an alcohol-dilution method. Overall, 431 taxa identified into 61 families, 104 genera and 85 species were found in the samples. The number of taxa per sample varied from 17–52. Half of the samples contained 31–40 taxa, indicating a high diversity in botanical origin. Three taxa were found in >50% of the samples and are the most important: Berchemia scandens, Salix nigra and Toxicodendron radicans. Berchemia scandens was found in 89% of the samples and was a predominant type in three samples and an important secondary type in 14. Both Salix nigra and Toxicodendron radicans pollen occurred in 83% of the samples and neither occurred as a predominant or secondary type. Three samples were Berchemia scandens unifloral honey. By examining the pollen in honey, it can determined which habitats honeybees visit, which plants honeybees use as food, if they visit row crops and orchards and their role in pollination. In order to differentiate honey from the United States of America (USA) from honey produced in other countries, the honey from each state must be analyzed. Only by analyzing the pollen in the honey of the USA can it be reliably differentiated from foreign honey that is being sold as produced in the USA.

Botanical discrimination of Greek unifloral honeys with physico-chemical and chemometric analyses

The aim of the present study was to investigate the possibility of characterisation and classification of Greek unifloral honeys (pine, thyme, fir and orange blossom) according to botanical origin using volatile compounds, conventional physico-chemical parameters and chemometric analyses (MANOVA and Linear Discriminant Analysis). For this purpose, 119 honey samples were collected during the harvesting period 2011 from 14 different regions in Greece known to produce unifloral honey of good quality. Physico-chemical analysis included the identification and semi quantification of fifty five volatile compounds performed by Headspace Solid Phase Microextraction coupled to gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy and the determination of conventional quality parameters such as pH, free, lactonic, total acidity, electrical conductivity, moisture, ash, lactonic/free acidity ratio and colour parameters L∗, a∗, b∗. Results showed that using 40 diverse variables (30 volatile compounds of different classes and 10 physico-chemical parameters) the honey samples were satisfactorily classified according to botanical origin using volatile compounds (84.0% correct prediction), physicochemical parameters (97.5% correct prediction), and the combination of both (95.8% correct prediction) indicating that multi element analysis comprises a powerful tool for honey discrimination purposes.

Orientation of colonized sand flies Phlebotomus papatasi, P. duboscqi, and Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) to diverse honeys using a 3-chamber in-line olfactometer.

A 3-chamber in-line olfactometer designed for use with sand flies is described and tested as a high-throughput method to screen honeys for attractiveness to Phlebotomus papatasi (four geographic isolates), P. duboscqi (two geographic isolates), and Lutzomyia longipalpis maintained in colonies at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. A diversity of unifloral honey odors were evaluated as a proxy for the natural floral odors that sand flies may use in orientation to floral sugar sources in the field. In the 3-chamber in-line olfactometer, the choice modules come directly off both sides of the release area instead of angling away as in the Y-tube olfactometer. Of the 25 honeys tested, five had a significant attraction for one or more of the sand fly isolates tested. This olfactometer and high-throughput method has utility for evaluating a diversity of natural materials with unknown complex odor blends that can then be down-selected for further evaluation in wind tunnels and/or field scenarios.

Floral authentication of Greek unifloral honeys based on the combination of phenolic compounds, physicochemical parameters and chemometrics

Greek unifloral honeys (pine, thyme, fir, orange blossom) were characterized and classified according to botanical origin based on phenolic compound content and conventional physicochemical parameters using MANOVA and Linear Discriminant Analysis. One hundred and nineteen honey samples were collected during the harvesting period 2011 from 14 different regions in Greece known to produce unifloral honey of good quality. The analysis of phenolic compounds quercetin (3,5,7,3′,4′-pentahydroxyflavone), myricetin (3,5,7,3′,4′,5′-hexahydroxyflavone), kaempferol (3,5,7,4′-tetrahydroxyflavone), chrysin (5,7-dihydroxyflavanone), and syringic acid (4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid), was performed by high pressure liquid chromatography. Conventional quality parameter analysis included the determination of: pH, free, lactonic and total acidity, electrical conductivity, moisture, ash, as well as lactonic/free acidity ratio and colour parameters L*, a*, and b*. Using 4 phenolic compounds and 10 conventional quality parameters honey samples were satisfactorily classified (96.6% correct prediction) according to botanical origin.

Prospects of apicultural entrepreneurship in coastal districts of eastern India: a melissopalynological evaluation.

A melissopalynological analysis of fifty-one natural honey samples (twenty four spring, fifteen summer and twelve winter) collected during 2010–2011 from two east-coastal districts (20020/ to 22011/ N, 82039/ to 87001/ E) of Orissa, India was performed. Out of 37 unifloral samples found 25 were contributed by Apis cerana indica, seven by A. dorsata and the remaining five by A. florea. Out of 14 multifloral samples five were contributed by A. cerana indica, five by A. dorsata and the remaining four by A. florea. Principal component analysis confirmed the palynological classification of the unifloral honey samples. Eighty-two bee-plant taxa belonging to forty four families were recovered. The predominant nectariferous taxa of the spring season were Acanthus ilicifolius, Avicennia marina, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Cocos nucifera, Eucalyptus globulus, Phoenix paludosa, Pongamia pinnata, Prosopis juliflora, Sonneratia apetala and Syzygium cumini. In the summer the predominant nectariferous taxa were Borassus flabellifer, C. nucifera, E. globulus, Syzygium cumini, Terminalia arjuna, Aegiceras corniculatum, P. paludosa and Sonneratia apetala while those of the winter were Brassica nigra, Coriandrum sativum, Zizyphus jujuba, Alstonia scholaris, E. globulus and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza. Very low (<0.09) HDE/P for 98% of the samples and absence of toxic palynotaxa assure that these honeys are suitable for human consumption. Quite extended honey flow period with spring and summer as best forage seasons for the honeybees and occurrence of 82% of these honeys with APC Group II, III and IV justify the sustainability of the present study area for establishing moderate to large-scale apicultural entrepreneurship. This should improve the socio-economic status of the people of this region.

Impact of floral sources and processing on the antimicrobial activities of different unifloral honeys

ObjectiveTo study in vitro antibacterial activity and physicochemical properties of three unifloral honeys (citrus, clover and cotton honeys), and to study the impacts of storage, dilution with water (33%, w/v) and autoclaving (121 °C for 15 min) on honeys characteristics. MethodsHoney samples from monofloral sources including citrus (Citrus spp.), Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrium) and cotton (Gossypium vitifolium) were obtained during three successive seasons (2010–2012). Physicochemical properties and antimicrobial activities of different honey samples were studies. ResultsIn honey samples stored for 12 or 24 month, colour, hydroxymethyl furfural and acidity increased, while refractive index, water activity, total soluble solids, electrical conductivity and pH remained relatively unaffected, but H2O2 values decreased. Types of honey exhibited various degrees of antibacterial activity against different indicator bacteria, wherein the highest antibacterial activity was recorded for clover honey followed by citrus and cotton honeys, respectively. Different species of bacteria were differed in their sensitivity to honey, wherein Salmonella enteritidis was the most sensitive followed by Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli, respectively. Storage up to 24 months at room temperature slightly reduced the antibacterial activity. The reduction levels were about 2.6% and 4.6% after 12 and 24 months, respectively. Diluting honeys with water increased the antibacterial activity by ca. 8.3%, while autoclaving decreased the antibacterial activity by ca. 13.5%. The relative contribution of the peroxide and non-peroxide components in the total antibacterial activity of fresh honeys was investigated. The antibacterial activity of honeys was mainly attributed to non-peroxide antibacterial agents, wherein their contribution was ca. 88%, while the contribution of H2O2 was only 12%. The contribution of the thermostable antibacterial components in honey was ca. 86.8%. The antibacterial activity of the fresh clover honey was compared with the effect of 16 antibiotics on indicator bacteria. Clover honey exhibited antibacterial activity comparable to that exhibited by the tested antibiotics. Moreover, antibacterial activity of water diluted fresh clover honey was higher compared to some of tested antibiotics. Clover honey appeared to deserve further investigations, since it may prove to be a promise therapeutic honey. ConclusionsHoney samples tested in this study exhibited antibacterial activity against tested pathogenic bacteria, and this activity was mainly due to non-peroxide antibacterial factors. Clover honey appeared to deserve further investigations, since it may prove to be a promising therapeutic honey.

Major and trace elements levels in multifloral and unifloral honeys in Croatia

Different honey types were collected in Croatia during 2010 and 2011: 7 multifloral orchard honeys, 7 multifloral meadow honeys, 19 black locust, 9 chestnut, 11 lime and 6 sage honeys. Elements were measured using graphite (As, Cu, Cd, Pb, Se) and flame atomic absorption spectrometer (Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Zn) and by mercury analyser (Hg). Significant differences in Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Zn, As and Hg levels were observed between honey types. In chestnut honey were determined (K, Ca, Mg: mgkg−1; Hg, Ad, Cd: μgkg−1): the highest concentrations of K 2824.4, Ca 486.7, Mg 59.1 and Hg 2.52; the lowest of As 24.1 and Cd 2.52. Lime honey has been shown the highest content of Cu (20.6mgkg−1), Zn (6.78mgkg−1), Cd (2.14μgkg−1) and Pb (810.3μgkg−1). The lowest levels of following elements were determined in black locust honey (Fe, K, Mg: mgkg−1; Hg: μgkg−1): Fe 2.77, K 304.7, Mg 8.02 and Hg 0.82. Sage honey had the lowest Ca and Na content (173.9 and 31.8mgkg−1). Among the multifloral honeys, the following was determined (Fe, Na, Cu: mgkg−1; As, Pb: μgkg−1): orchard honey – highest of Fe 5.17 and As 276.1, lowest Pb 301; meadow honey – highest Na 36.1, lowest Cu 4.38. The average Ca, Cu and Pb levels found in multifloral honey types were much higher than those reported in other European countries. Calcium levels in lime, chestnut and black locust were higher than those from other countries.

Palynological characterisation of Euphorbia honeys from Morocco

Pollen was analysed in 30 unifloral Euphorbia honey samples from the Ifni Massif Region (Anti Atlas, Morocco). The honey samples were directly provided by beekeepers. The quantitative analyis showed that nectar is the main honey source in the samples studied. The qualitative analysis of the samples showed the presence of 35 taxa belonging to 17 families. The Moroccan Euphorbia honeys of the studied region are characterized by their low–medium number of pollen grains (NGP; mean = 5700), 76% of the honeys belong to Class I and II of Maurizio, and by their low honeydew indicator (HDE/NGPn < 0.28), wich indicates their floral origin. For the Euphorbia officinarum subsp. echinus honeys, the most characteristic accompanying species are Eryngium ilicifolium, present in > 90% of the samples, followed by Bellis sp., Capsella f. and Reseda sp. (85%). However, for the E. regis-jubae honeys, the most characteristic accompanying species are Crepis f., present in 100% of the samples.

Volatile compounds of unifloral honey and floral nectar from Quillaja saponaria

Currently, the search for chemical markers related to the botanical origin of honey is an important issue because of its potential use as a complementary tool for melisopalinological analysis. The objective of this research was to compare the (1) volatile compounds of Quillaja saponaria Mol. (Fam. Quillajaceae) floral nectar with those of unifloral honey of this same species, and (2) volatile compounds in Q. saponaria honeys from the same geographical origin. For the identification and semiquantification of volatile compounds, Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) was performed. The nectar of Q. saponaria presented volatile compounds different from the compounds identified in its unifloral honey, which may be precursors of the compounds present in Q. saponaria honey. Ten volatile compounds were found in all the samples of Q. saponaria honey: 2-methyl butyric acid (2 – 21.6 µg/L), benzyl alcohol (1 – 6 µg/L), 2-phenylethanol (16 – 125.3 µg/L), ketoisophorone (2.6 – 15.9 µg/L), linalool (2.4 – 13.8 µg/L) and its oxides 1 and 2 (6 – 13.3 µg/L and 3 – 7 µg/L, respectively), β-damascenone (4 - 12µg/L), pantolactone (2 – 7.5 µg/L) and furfural (7 – 44,2 µg/L). These compounds were common in unifloral honey with different floral sources from other countries. These results would indicate that Q. saponariahoney does not present specific volatile compounds that allow its clear differentiation from other unifloral honey.

From flower to honey bouquet: possible markers for the botanical origin of Robinia honey.

Flowers are complex structures devoted to pollinator attraction, through visual as well as chemical signals. As bees collect nectar on flowers to produce honey, some aspects of floral chemistry are transferred to honey, making chemical markers an important technique to identify the botanical and geographical origins of honey. We applied a new approach that considers the simultaneous analysis of different floral parts (petals, stamens + pistils, calyxes + nectarines, and nectar) and the corresponding unifloral honey. We collected fresh flowers of Robinia pseudoacacia L. (black locust), selected five samples of Robinia honey from different geographical origins, applied SPME-GC/MS for volatile analyses, and defined the chemical contribution added by different floral parts to the honey final bouquet. Our results show that honey blends products from nectar as well as other flower parts. Comparing honey and flower profiles, we detected compounds coming directly from flower parts but not present in the nectar, such as hotrienol and β-pinene. These may turn out to be of special interest when selecting floral markers for the botanical origin of honey.

Comparison of methods for determining the color of Chilean honeys and the relationship of color with botanical origin in central Chile

M.J. Martin, C. Fredes, G. Nunez, R. Ginocchio, and G. Montenegro. 2014. Comparison of methods for determining the color of Chilean honeys and the relationship of color with botanical origin in central Chile. Cien. Inv. Agr. 41(3): 411-418. The color of honey has special relevance in the international market, as different markets demand specific colors of honey. Chile has very diverse native and exotic flora, which are used by bees (Apis mellifera) to produce a range of honey types, including honeys of different colors. In this context, determining the relationships between color and botanical origin among Chilean honeys is very relevant. The objectives of the present study were to compare three methodologies for determining color in Chilean honeys (Pantone®, optical density (OD), and Pfund) and to define the relationship between color and botanical origin of the characterized honeys. The most common honeys from the Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins Region (VI Region) of Chile were Galega officinalis, Quillaja saponaria, and Retanilla trinervia unifloral honeys, all of which have lighter colors than internationally described. Both the OD and Pfund methods could identify significant differences between dominant species; specifically, these methods were able to discriminate between G. officinalis and Q. saponaria honeys and between G. officinalis and R. trinervia honeys. The OD and Pfund methods revealed that honeys of G. officinalis (A530 nm: 0.93 and 95.53 mm Pfund) were darker than those of Q. saponaria (A530 nm: 0.42 and 80.66 mm Pfund) and R. trinervia (A530 nm: 0.35 and 73.41 mm Pfund). Although the three methods for determining the color of Chilean honeys had different efficacies, the OD method was able to discriminate among dominant species and honey types. Significant correlations among the dominant species were found for Chilean honeys from the Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins Region using both the OD and Pfund methods.

Investigation of chemical keys for relationship between plants and their unifloral honeys by hydrodistillation and SPME and biological activities of honeys

Volatile compounds of unifloral honeys and their plants essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation (EOH) and solid phase micro extraction (EOS) methods were investigated and compared with each other for the first time. The results exhibited presence of volatile compounds of plant such as o-cymene and carvacrol in Thymus, cis-linalool oxide in Citrus, aliphatic hydrocarbons in Citrus and Astragalus and hexadecanoic acid (palmitic acid) in Astragalus and Medicago honeys. The amounts of terpenes were decreased by increasing molecular weight in EOS, while this pattern does not occur in EOH. Total phenols and antioxidant activities were increased from Citrus to Thymus honey (Citrus < Medicago < Astragalus < Thymus). In antibacterial assay, Thymus honey showed the most potential inhibition to all the experimented strains of bacteria. Increase in phenol content may be an effective factor for antibacterial activity of honey against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. It seems that active compounds with antioxidant properties were responsible for growth inhibition effect on E. coli and S. aureus.

Analysis of volatile compounds in New Zealand unifloral honeys by SPME–GC–MS and chemometric-based classification of floral source

New Zealand unifloral honeys have a higher commercial value than polyfloral honeys; however identification of floral source can be difficult and time-consuming. In this study, we aimed to establish a rapid and semi-automated method for identifying the floral source of New Zealand honeys. Volatile compounds from ten types of New Zealand unifloral honeys (a total of 234 samples) were analyzed by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS). For 37 compounds, probability plots of log10[GC–MS peak area] versus cumulative probability enabled visual identification of those that could be possible markers used to discriminate floral source. GC–MS peak areas were also analyzed by hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis. Results showed data falling into groups based on floral source, indicating that supervised pattern recognition could be used to build a model with which to classify honeys based on floral source. A model was built using WEKA (Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis) machine-learning software. The logistic model tree algorithm in WEKA produced a model that classified 89.8 % of samples correctly. Overall, results show that the methods employed here have the potential to be used as a basis for routine testing and classification of New Zealand unifloral honeys.

Chiral volatile compounds for the determination of orange honey authenticity

Assessment of the botanical origin of the unifloral honeys is of great concern in the context of consumer protection and quality control. Nevertheless, the methods that are currently available are not satisfactory. In order to find alternatives to the time consuming and uncertain methods, a new analytical approach is proposed; it is based on the enantiomeric ratio investigation of chiral volatile constituents which are derived from the plants being visited by the bees. The method was applied to orange honeys; firstly, the volatile fraction of orange honey and flowers were studied by SPME-GC-MS; a large number of components were identified in orange honeys while linalool prevailed among orange flower volatiles. The enantiomeric ratios of linalool and its oxides were determined and analogous values between honey and flowers resulted. Even if a wide variability in the amount of typical volatile constituents of orange honeys emerged, the enantiomeric ratios of linalool and its oxides remained stable and thus less influenced by production period, conditioning, packaging, storage, etc. As a result the enantiomeric distribution of the honey volatile constituents that directly come from flowers could represent a rapid and easy method for floral origin authenticity.

Determination of proline in honey: Comparison between official methods, optimization and validation of the analytical methodology

The study compares official spectrophotometric methods for the determination of proline content in honey – those of the International Honey Commission (IHC) and the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) – with the original Ough method. Results show that the extra time-consuming treatment stages added by the IHC method with respect to the Ough method are pointless. We demonstrate that the AOACs method proves to be the best in terms of accuracy and time saving. The optimized waiting time for the absorbance recording is set at 35min from the removal of reaction tubes from the boiling bath used in the sample treatment. The optimized method was validated in the matrix: linearity up to 1800mgL−1, limit of detection 20mgL−1, limit of quantification 61mgL−1. The method was applied to 43 unifloral honey samples from the Marche region, Italy.

Antioxidant activity, color characteristics, total phenol content and general HPLC fingerprints of six Polish unifloral honey types

Total phenolic content, antioxidant activity (two assays: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)), and color coordinates (CIE (Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage) L*a*b*) for six Polish unifloral honeys (black locust, rapeseed, lime, goldenrod, heather and buckwheat) were assessed for several batches of the same honey type and statistically evaluated. Total phenolic content (121.6–1173.8 mg GAE/kg) was similar to the values previously reported for other European honeys and it was also correlated with the color parameters as well as antioxidant activity. The honeys' color ranged from pale yellow to dark amber. Dark buckwheat honey with much higher phenolic content (1113.0 mg GAE/kg) exhibited higher antioxidant activity (5.7 mmol Fe2+/kg and 1.2 mmol TEAC/kg). CIE L*a*b* color coordinates can be helpful for identifying and distinguishing between several honey types, such as heather and buckwheat, but almost no differences were found among very light honeys (rapeseed, goldenrod, black locust and lime). High-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis revealed general characteristic fingerprints of Polish unifloral honeys with significant differences among the samples of other honey types.

Color evaluation of seventeen European unifloral honey types by means of spectrophotometrically determined CIE [formula omitted] chromaticity coordinates

CIE (Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage) L∗Cab∗hab∘ color coordinates for 305 samples of 17 unifloral honeys types (asphodel, buckwheat, black locust, sweet chestnut, citrus, eucalyptus, Garland thorn, honeydew, heather, lime, mint, rapeseed, sage, strawberry tree, sulla flower, savory and thistle) from different geographic locations in Europe were spectrophotometrically assessed and statistically evaluated. Preliminary separation of unifloral honeys was obtained by means of L∗-Cab∗ color coordination correlation. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) revealed an expected segregation of the honeys types according to their chromatic characteristics. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) allowed to obtain a more defined distinction of the 17 unifloral honey types, particularly when using 3D graphics. CIE L∗Cab∗hab∘ color coordinates were useful for the identification of several honey types. The proposed method represents a simple and efficient procedure that can be used as a basis for the authentication of unifloral honeys worldwide.

Impedance spectroscopy for rapid determination of honey floral origin

In this work electrical impedance spectroscopy was applied as an alternative method for floral origin determination of unifloral honeys, which may supplement the labeling according to the European Legislation. Impedance measurements, in agreement with data from routine analyses, allowed to distinguish the unifloral honey samples and to acquire information on chemical and physical properties, such as conductivity, ash content and acidity. Equivalent electrical circuits have been extracted for each unifloral honey sample, which have been validated by means of electrical simulation, and every electrical component has been associated to a specific honey characteristic. It can be concluded that the method developed here permits rapid and easy determination of honey floral origin, no sample preparation procedure is required and it could be used in the official control laboratories.