Physicochemical characteristics of minor monofloral honeys from Tenerife, Spain

- Physicochemical characterization of the rare monofloral honeys described has not been published.
- Differences in the parameters analyzed between the monofloral honeys were observed.
- Heather and avocado honeys showed the more differential characteristics.
- Multivariate analysis applied allows the differentiation of monofloral honeys.

Physicochemical parameters (moisture, water activity, electrical conductivity, colour, hydroxymethyl furfural, acidity, pH, proline, diastase and invertase) and sugar composition (fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose, isomaltose, trehalose, turanose and melezitose) were determined in 85 honeys belonging to nine minor monofloral honeys such as avocado (Persea americana), barrilla (Messembryanthemum crystallinum), heather (Erica arborea), agave o pitera (Agave americana), poleo (Bystropogon origanifolius), relinchón (Hirstfeldia incana), tedera (Aspalthium bituminosum), malpica (Carlina xeranthemoides) and oregano (Origanum virens) from Tenerife in order to typify them for the first time. Most of the studied honeys are characterized because their specific pollens are under-represented. All the honey samples showed values of all the parameters determined within the legally established intervals. All the physicochemical and sugar composition parameters, with the exception of diastase, presented significant differences in the mean values between the honeys analyzed. Applying univariate statistical analysis, the following parameters (moisture, acidity, electrical conductivity, fructose, sucrose and melezitose) allow to distinguish all the types of honeys studied without overlap. Heather and avocado honeys showed the most differential physicochemical characteristics with respect to the rest of monofloral honeys.