title: Physicochemical profiles of stingless bee (Apidae: Meliponini) honey from South East Asia (Thailand).
abstract: This study examines the physicochemical properties of stingless bee honey from SE Asia (Thailand). Twenty-eight stingless bee honey samples, from 11 stingless bee species, were examined. Results reveal an average color (67 ± 19 mm Pfund), moisture (31 ± 5.4 g/100g), ash (0.531 ± 0.632 g/100g), electrical conductivity (1.1 ± 0.780 ms/cm), pH of (3.6 ± 0.198), total acidity (164 ± 162 meq/kg), diastase activity (1.5 ± 1.6 °Gothe) and hydroxymethylfurfural (8.7 ± 12 mg/kg). The carbohydrate profile is: total sugar (51 ± 21 g/100g), fructose (17 ± 9.7 g/100g), glucose (14 ± 8.6g/100g), maltose (41 ± 15 g/100g) and sucrose (1.2 ± 2.7 g/100g). These findings are not dissimilar to those reported for stingless bee honeys from the neo-tropics. When compared with the Apis mellifera standard, stingless bee honey is characterized as possessing higher moisture content, acidity, ash and HMF but a lower level of total sugars.
authors: Postharvest Technology Research Institute, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; Science and Technology Research Institute, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand. Electronic address: bajaree@yahoo.com.
authors: Bajaree
authors: B
authors: Chuttong
authors: Postharvest Technology Research Institute, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
authors: Yaowaluk
authors: Y
authors: Chanbang
authors: Department of Animal and Aquatic Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
authors: Korawan
authors: K
authors: Sringarm
authors: Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Burgett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001210:Asia, Southeastern; D001516:Bees / Q000737:chemistry*; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D006722:Honey / Q000032:analysis*; D013785:Thailand
keywords: Honey; Meliponini; Physicochemical properties; Stingless bee; Sugar