Physical-chemical characterization of honey samples of Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) from Ceará State

This research was aimed at to determining physico-chemical characteristics honey samples collected in cities of Ceara States (Araripe; Santana do Cariri 1 sample; Assaré 1 sample; Iguatu 8 samples; Crato 4 samples; Missão Velha 2 samples and Pacajús 3 samples), they were determined at the laboratory of Apiculture in the "Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz" (ESALQ) University of São Paulo, in Piracicaba, São Paulo State: total sugar, reducing sugars, apparent sucrose, humidity, diastase activity, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), protein, ash, pH, acidity, formol index, electrical conductivity, viscosity and color of 20 samples of Apis mellifera L., 1758 honey collected between March of 2002 and August of 2002. Most of the samples of honey analyzed (65%) are inside of the Brazilian specifications for the characteristics physical-chemistries except for the characteristics apparent sucrose (10% of the samples), humidity (10% of the samples), diastase activity (35% of the samples) and HMF (20% of the samples). The results showed electrical conductivity and apparent sucrose as characteristics that most influenced grouping samples.

honey bee; reducing sugars; diastase activity; grouping analysis; principal component analysis