Physico-chemical properties of multi-floral honey from the West Bank, Palestine

Figures & data

Table 1. Quality parameters of Palestinian multi-floral honey from the West Bank.

Parameter	n	Mean ± SEM	Range
pH	33	3.44 ± 0.11	3.03–5.98
Relative density g/ml*	32	1.424 ± 0.003	1.422–1.43
Moisture (%)	32	16.53 ± 0.00	14.50–19.00
Total sugar content (%)	32	82.00 ± 0.00	79.00–84.00
Reducing sugar content (%)	21	78.86 ± 0.41	68.96–83.61
Sucrose content (%)	21	4.10 ± 0.41	1.13–6.94
Fructose content (%)	21	38.29 ± 0.47	34.24–41.99
Protein content (%)	21	0.33 ± 0.03	0.20–0.49
Ash content (%)	21	0.14 ± 0.02	0.03–0.21
HMF (mg/kg)	21	12.32 ± 1.80	2.10–34.20

*Relative density = 145/(145 – Baume, 43.16) = 1.424 g/mL.

Table 2. Quality parameters of Palestinian multi-floral honey compared to those reported from other countries.

Authors/country	pH	Moisture (%)	Ash (%)	HMF (mg/kg)	Reducing sugars (%)
Atrouse et al.^[^23^]/Jordan	3.5–3.7	13.3–18.5
Aloisi^[^45^]/Argentina	3.2–5.7	5.4–18.4	0.00–0.54	0.00–14.7
Kamal et al.^[^24^]/Pakistan	3.3–5.8	17.1–17.9	0.05–0.77	16.4–42.9	66.0–79.2
Eleazu et al.^[^32^]/Nigeria	4.3–4.8	15.7–19.3	0.30–0.86		49.1–76.3
Yilmaz and Yavuz^[^44^]/Turkey	3.8–4.5	14.4–18.6	0.06–0.41	0.0–20.4	64.1–76.7
Ochemoukh et al.^[^37^]/Algeria	3.5–4.4	14.6–19.0	0.06–0.54		67.8–80.3
Boussiad et al.^[^7^]/Tunisia	3.3–4.7	14.3–18.6	0.06–0.21	1.48–34.1	63.2–73.2
Present study/Palestine	3.0–6.0	14.5–19.0	0.03–0.21	2.1–34.2	69.0–83.6

Table 3. Means (±SEM; n = 21) of mineral content(mg/kg) in Palestinian multi-floral honey.

Metals	Mean ± SEM	Range
K	183.86 ± 31.10	42.80–585.00
Na	104.67 ± 14.55	41.80–306.30
Ca	90.99 ± 5.44	44.50–150.70
P	63.75 ± 4.89	39.80–118.10
Mg	22.74 ± 1.91	12.30–46.70
Fe	5.21 ± 0.49	2.00–10.80
Li	3.37 ± 0.54	0.39–8.60
B	2.94 ± 0.45	0.23–6.20
Mn	0.33 ± 0.06	0.11–0.99
Ba	0.24 ± 0.02	0.14–0.60
Zn	4.13 ± 1.23	1.00–19.90
Cu	0.45 ± 0.11	0.00–1.52
Cr	0.17 ± 0.05	0.00–0.74
Ni	0.08 ± 0.03	0.00–0.51