Use of palynological and physico-chemical analysis methods in the characterization of Russian monofloral honey types

The characterization of usual and rare monofloral honey types produced on the territory of Russia represent a current issue in the country. At the present time only three monofloral honeys are regulated by official standards: linden, buckwheat and sunflower. This list does not reflect the whole variety of the Russian honey types. Among the analytical methods used while determining the specific origin of honey, a key role is played by palynological (pollen) and physico-chemical analysis. If the results of the first method can be used in independent works, for example, revealing the geographical origin of honey, data obtained by means of physico-chemical analysis should be always supported by the results of other researches. This is due to the overlapping of ranges of the majority of the main parameters at study in different monofloral honey types. The number of scientific works based on the use of both the above-mentioned methods is quite limited. In addition, all of them do not consider the methodical features of palynological analysis. The current work analyzes the pollen spectra, diastase, pH, free acidity, water content, specific electric conductivity, quality reaction to HMF content, and prolin content in 32 samples of honey from the Republic Bashkortostan and the Novosibirsk Region. In line with the obtained results, the characteristics of several Russian monofloral honey types have been elaborated. Thus, linden honey with shares of Tilia pollen between 30 and 88% possessed an increased pH (4.2-6.4) and electric conductivity (0.25-0.45 mS/cm). Buckwheat honey with a content of Fagopyrum pollen between 37 and 79% are distinguished by high diastase (18.7-39.8). In blueweed honey with a content of Echium pollen between 57 and 65% an increased prolin content is noted (420-452 mg/kg). Comparison between the Russian standards and the European characteristics of 5 basic monofloral honey types has shown a certain distinction among the regulated parameters, and as a consequence the same results could be interpreted differently. The presence of similar features points out the necessity of the further research.