PHYSICOCHEMICAL ATTRIBUTES AND POLLEN SPECTRUM OF SOME UNIFLORAL SPANISH HONEYS

In the present work a total of 19 unifloral Spanish honeys were studied and botanically typified: willow (Salix sp.), sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.), chickweed (Hypecoum sp.), crucifer (Brassica type), fruiter (Prunus sp.), thyme (Thymus sp.), blueweed (Echium sp.), spike lavender (Lavandula latifolia Med.), French lavender (Lavandula stoechas L.), and vetch (Vicia sativa L.). Unifloral honeys were considered as such whenever the dominant pollen was found at over 45% of total pollen, except for lavender and thyme types of honey where a finding above 15% of Lavandula or Thymus pollen, respectively, was enough to typify them. All samples were organoleptically examined and the following determinations were carried out: moisture, optical rotation, electrical conductivity, ash, hydroxymethylfurfural, diastase activity, pH, acidity (free, lactone, and total) and carbohydrate composition. These samples were found to meet all major national and international honey specifications.