The aim of this study is to determine the physicochemical (moisture content, pH, free acidity, electrical conductivity, colour (L*, a*, b*, chroma, hue angle), ash content, fructose and glucose content) and to determine the phenolic profile (quercetin, apigenin, myricetin, isorhamnetin, kaempherol, caffeic acid, chrysin, galangin, luteolin, p-coumaric acid, gallic acid and pinocembrin) of five samples of honeydew honeys from the North East part of Romania. The honey samples analysed respected the maximum allowable level of the moisture content, which is established by the European Union at 20%. The acidic nature of the honeydew is confirmed by the level of the pH and free acidity of the samples, and is influenced in principal by the organic acids; all the samples had a free acidity lower than 50 meq acid/kg. The honey colour is dark which is confirmed by the level of the CIE L*a*b* parameters (lower values of L*, a* and b*). The inverted sugar level (fructose and glucose content) is higher than 60 g/ 100g, respecting the European Union directive. The phenolic profile of the honeydew samples do not presented one compound that can be considered a chemical marker, the major polyphenols presented into the honeydew honeys are quercetin and pinocembrin.
PHENOLIC PROFILE OF HONEYDEW HONEYS FROM THE NORTH-EAST PART OF ROMANIA
