Studies on honey from the Algarve in view of its valorization

Tese de dout., Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Univ. do Algarve, 2012

Erasmus Mundus 2008-1022/002

Several studies were conducted with different Portuguese honey samples from South area (Algarve) in view of exploiting its properties and increasing the commercial value of some types of honey. Initially, the effects of honey storage for long periods were evaluated in terms of physicochemical parameters and bioactivity (Chapter 3) and it was concluded that after three years most of the properties of honey remained unchanged except for the freshness indicators, which were, as expected, reasonably far from the regulated values. Several commercial samples of honey with different floral origins were subjected to the conventional studies, including melissopalynology pollen analysis, physiochemical and biological (antioxidant properties) analysis. Honey from strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.), a typical plant in Algarve, was the focus of this study. This kind of honey has low acceptability by consumers probably because of unawareness of its existence and/or of its beneficial biological properties. Also, it may not be an obvious preference, due to its exquisite bitter taste, thus being locally called “bitter honey” (Chapter 4). Artisanal bitter honey was compared with other commercial honeys that are appreciated by Portuguese consumers (Chapter 5). This research consisted in the study of the physicochemical parameters, bioactive compounds and sensorial evaluation; done in comparison with sunflower (Helianthus annuus) honey, french lavender (Lavandula stoechas) honey, orange blossom (Citrus spp.) honey and commercial strawberry tree honey. Finally, in the last stage of the work (Chapter 6), new methods for determination of botanical origin of honey were explored as potential alternatives to the traditional analysis method (melissopalynological). These non-invasive techniques namely electronic tongue, UV-Vis spectroscopy and Vis-NIR spectroscopy, were used with the help of multivariate analysis (principal component analysis, PCA), for the interpretation of data’s obtained with above techniques. It is hoped that this research will represent an enrichment of knowledge on honey from the Algarve and, especially for Arbutus unedo honey, it has been demonstrated that it has the characteristics of similar gourmet honey from Italy existing, therefore, the potential of increasing its commercial value, which would also be advantageous for the interior region of the Algarve where, since the Arab occupation, the strawberry tree is abundant.