Relationships between Moisture Content and Physical Properties of Korean Honeys
Dynamic rheological and thermal characteristics of ten Korean acacia honeys with different moisture contents (18.4 to 20.4 percent) were evaluated as a function of moisture content using both a controlled stress rheometer for small-deformation oscillatory measurements and a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The honey samples displayed a liquid-like behavior at a subzero temperature (-5°C) with loss modulus (G") predominating over storage modulus (G'), showing a high dependence on frequency. Plots of dynamic moduli (G' and G") and complex viscosity (?*) versus moisture content gave better exponential relationships (R2 = 0.95-0.97) than the tan delta values (R2 = 0.89). Glass transition temperatures at onset (To) showed a better linear relationship (R2 = 0.87) with moisture content compared to those at midpoint (Tm) (R2 = 0.84) and endpoint (Te) (R2 = 0.81). The dynamic rheological parameters more closely correlated with moisture content as compared to the glass transition temperatures, indicating that dynamic rheological measurements at a subzero temperature are better physical parameters to estimate the quality of honeys.