Floral origin markers of chestnut and lime tree honeys

The apiculture industry is more and more interested in finding typical markers to authenticate floral origin of honeys. With this aim, some reliable volatile compounds were proposed to identify origin of lime tree and chestnut samples. A dichloromethane extraction followed by a Likens-Nickerson simultaneous steam distillation/solvent extraction led to representative honey extracts. About 400 volatile compounds were separated by gas chromatography, but only a few authenticated the floral origin of honeys. Chestnut honeys are distinguishable from other origins by high concentrations of acetophenone, 1-phenylethanol (> 88 ppb), and 2-aminoacetophenone (> 154 ppb). Lime tree honeys are characterized by enhanced amounts of shikimate pathway derivatives (ethylmethylphenol isomer (> 31 ppb), 4-tert-butylphenol, estragole (> 51 ppb), and p-methylacetophenone but also by high concentrations of monoterpene-derived compounds (menthol, thymol, 8-p-menthene-1,2-diol, and carvacrol (> 76 ppb)) and methyl(1-methylethenyl)benzene.