Výskumný ústav potravinársky

Ramírez-Miranda, I. – Moguel-Ordoñez, Y. – Betancur-Ancona, D.
Comparison of physicochemical properties of honeys produced by Melipona beecheii bees from low deciduous forest at harvest and post-harvest seasons


David Betancur-Ancona, Food Science Laboratory, Autonomous University of Yucatan, North Peripheral km 33.5, 97203 Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. E-mail: bancona@correo.uady.mx

Original article
Received 8 December 2023; 1st revised 20 February 2024; accepted 26 March 2024.

Súhrn: The demand for honey produced by stingless bees such as Melipona beecheii has increased due to its therapeutic properties; however, its physicochemical characterization is still limited. There are not enough studies to establish quality control parameters. The objective was to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics of Melipona beecheii honey obtained at different production seasons in meliponaries from the low deciduous forest zone of Yucatan, Mexico. Thirty-seven samples of honey were obtained in the harvest and post-harvest seasons during 2020–2021. According to the International Honey Commission methodologies, physicochemical analyses were carried out, and statistical analysis was performed to determine differences between seasons in the parameters evaluated. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) between harvesting seasons in the CIE colour parameters L*a*b* (3.03, 0.47, 0.43 and 3.48, 1.85, 3.05, respectively), free acidity (21.3 meq·kg^-1 and 32.4 meq·kg^-1), ash (2.3 g·kg^-1 and 4.5 g·kg^-1), hydroxymethylfurfural (11.8 mg·kg^-1 and 20.4 mg·kg^-1), and invertase number (7.8 and 11.6). For moisture, sugars, electrical conductivity, diastase activity, insoluble matter, and proline, no differences were found (p > 0.05) between honeys extracted at harvest and post-harvest seasons. These could be related to the diversity of melliferous flora present in this ecoregion.

Kľúčové slová: stingless bee; honey; physicochemical characterization; hydroxymethylfurfural