title: Characterization of Coffea arabica monofloral honey from Espírito Santo, Brazil.
abstract: In this study, samples of coffee honey produced in Espírito Santo State, Brazil, were characterized based on their melissopalynology, physicochemical and nutritional properties, and mineral and caffeine contents. The caffeine content in the nectar from coffee flowers was measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Blends of honey were obtained from three Coffea arabica crops, each with 10 colonies of Africanized Apis mellifera. All honey samples contained monofloral (75-78%) pollen belonging to C. arabica. Physicochemical parameters (total acidity, pH, moisture, dry matter, ash, and qualitative hydroxymethylfurfural) were within the approved limits established by EU legislation. Coffee honey contains high levels of ascorbic acid (294.68 mg kg(-1)) and low amounts of total flavonoids (3.51 ± 0.18 mg QE kg(-1)). The most abundant minerals were potassium and calcium (962.59 ± 154.3 and 343.75 ± 25.56 mg kg(-1), respectively). The caffeine content in coffee nectar (1.64 mg kg(-1)) was approximately 8-fold lower than that in honey (12.02 ± 0.81 mg kg(-1)).
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Ensino, Ciência e Tecnologia em Apicultura Racional (NECTAR), Departamento de Produção Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Distrito de Rubião Jr., s/n, Zip Code 18618-000 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: samirkbr@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Samir Moura
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kadri
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Ensino, Ciência e Tecnologia em Apicultura Racional (NECTAR), Departamento de Produção Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Distrito de Rubião Jr., s/n, Zip Code 18618-000 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: rodrigozaluski@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zaluski
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Distrito de Rubião Jr., s/n, Zip Code 18618-000 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: gpplima@ibb.unesp.br.
authors.forename: Giuseppina Pace
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Pereira Lima
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, UNICAMP - Universidade de Campinas, CP 6109, Zip Code 13083-862 Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: pmazza@unicamp.br.
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mazzafera
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Ensino, Ciência e Tecnologia em Apicultura Racional (NECTAR), Departamento de Produção Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Distrito de Rubião Jr., s/n, Zip Code 18618-000 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: orsi@fmvz.unesp.br.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Orsi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis*; D001516:Bees / Q000378:metabolism; D001938:Brazil; D002110:Caffeine / Q000032:analysis*; D040503:Coffea / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry; D005662:Furaldehyde / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D006722:Honey / Q000032:analysis*; D011058:Pollen / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D002110:Caffeine; C008046:5-hydroxymethylfurfural; D005662:Furaldehyde; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: Apis mellifera; Ascorbic acid (PubChem CID: 9888239); Caffeine; Caffeine (PubChem CID: 2519); Coffea arabica; Quality; Quercetin (PubChem CID: 5280343)