QUALITY EVALUATION OF SOME HONEYS FROM DIFFERENT FLORA HABITATS FROM SETIF, EASTERN OF ALGERIA

Abstract

The quality of four samples of honey, from the eastern of Algeria, was evaluated by determining the physicho-chemical characteristics of honey. In this study, water content (%), Total sugar (%), Proline (mg/Kg) and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) (mg/Kg) were determined in different types of four flora honey. The main components of honey are sugar and water, the dominant types of carbohydrate are glucose and fructose which contains approximately 70–83 %, the results of analysis showed that the total sugar estimated by the refractometre ranged from 79 to 80.5%. The water content ranged from 16.5 to 18 % within the accepted range proposed by Codex Alimentarius of no more than 20 %. In addition, HMF values confined between 0.248 and 49.30 mg/Kg, the highest value registered in the imported honey indicate that this sample was stored for longer time at elevated temperatures. Proline content of honey constantly decreases during storage therefore the proline might be indicator of honey ripeness, the proline content in the four honey samples tested varied between 205 and 1161 mg/kg, within the accepted d range proposed by Codex Alimentarius of more than 180 mg/kg. Overall, the local different flora honeys revealed that eastern Algeria honey is fulfils national and International standards.