Quality evaluation and geographical classification of immature rape and acacia honeys in China.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To reflect and understand the real situation regarding immature honey, the quality parameters of 141 honey samples from different regions of China were evaluated. The possibility of classifying Chinese honey from different geographical origins was also considered. RESULTS: The results revealed that the values of diastase, sucrose, proline and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) met the international honey standard, although moisture, total glucose and fructose, and invertase content in most of the honey samples failed to meet the standards. In addition, honey from different geographical locations could be well separated based on the contents of maltose, sucrose, HMF and glucose oxidase. CONCLUSION: The maturity of honey has a great impact on its quality, and the geographical origin of immature honey could be classified according to the physicochemical parameters. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.