Physicochemical characterization of honey bee (<i>Apis mellifera</i> L.) from the Peruvian Amazon region

Abstract

The Peruvian Amazon represents 62% of the national territory and within its area of influence there are ecosystems rich in biodiversity with great potential for honey production. The objective of the study was to determine the physicochemical characteristics of honeys from the Alto Mayo and Huallaga Central ecosystems of the San Martin region, using the Peruvian Technical Standard and AOAC. Twenty honey samples were taken from apiaries in the provinces of Rioja (Alto Mayo ecosystem) and Mariscal Cáceres (Huallaga Central ecosystem). Different physicochemical parameters were determined such as acidity (19.72 to 13.25 meq kg^-1), pH (4.19 to 3.96), moisture (19.06 to 17.82%), water activity (0.53 to 0.54), density (1.41 to 1.42 g mL^-1), reducing sugars (63.00 to 64.95%), soluble solids (73.08 to 74.18 °Brix), color (62.57 to 85.55 mm PFund), electrical conductivity (0.26 to 0.41 mS cm^-1), ash content (0.23 to 0.52%), hydroxymethylfurfural (14.30 to 15.0 mg kg^-1), and diastase index (10.54 to 10.75 °Gothe). The honey from the province of Mariscal Cáceres expressed a lighter color in relation to the honey from the Alto Mayo ecosystem.