Research of Original Sorts of Honey

The topicality. Honey, a natural saturated sugar solution, which consists of fructose and glucose in the amount of 65-80% of the total amount of sugars, and also contains important minor components – enzymes (diastase and invertase), organic acids (glycolic acid, acetic acid, etc.) , vitamins, phytoncides, phenolic compounds and minerals. Monofloral honeys, obtained mainly from the nectar of one plant species, are characterized by a conditionally stable composition and unique properties, which gives grounds to class them as functional products.

Purpose and methods. The purpose of the work is to use melisopalinological, organoleptic and physicochemical analyses to determine reliable criteria for the authenticity of Ukrainian original sorts of honey.

Results. The botanical origin of the investigated honeys has been confirmed by the study of the pollen spectrum of various honey samples by identifying the dominant pollen grains. In addition, all studied samples had their own profile of scent, tastes and consistency, a unique complex of which correlated with honey sorts. The varietal characteristics of the samples under study also influenced the physicochemical indicators, some values of which were outside the permissible limits in accordance with the national regulatory documentation.

Conclusions and discussion. For original sorts of honey with varying degrees of monoflority, there is a need for further study of the physicochemical composition in connection with their possible varietal characteristics. The scientific novelty of the work lies in a pilot study of the organoleptic characteristics and physicochemical parameters of the original of honey from Ukraine, in particular pumpkin, blueberry, and echinacea. Practical use of the obtained results is possible for further authentication of coriander, goldenrod, pumpkin, blueberry, thyme, phacelia and Echinacea honey as original sorts for further study of their properties and introduction into functional nutrition.