Physico-​chemical analysis of honey of different honeybees, Apis cerana, Apis dorsata, Apis mellifera and Apis florea

Abstract

In the present study phys. and chem. properties were analyzed to assess the compn. of honey and variations were found in the phys. and chem. properties of different honey. Surface tension ranged from 86.5 to 94.5 dynes​/ cm while pH varied from 4.0 to 4.8 and the water content of honey was 24.2 percent in Apis mellifera, 23.9 percent in Apis dorsata and lowest 20.0 percent in Apis florea. Considering the results obtained from the four different honeybee species, values of hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) were between 3.9 to 6.9 mg​/Kg, the reducing sugar content between 62.1 and 82.9 percent, the peroxide accumulation between 04.0 and 19.0 μg / g hr at 20°C, the levulose content varied between 36.6 and 39.9 percent and the dextrose between 29.4 and 31.2 percent