Honey produced in a dairy farming system based on alfalfa (physicochemical, palynologic and sensorial analyses)

• Mónica del Carmen Gaggiotti ^[1] ; Marcelo Signorini ^[1] ; Nora Sabbag ^[1] ; Rosana Andrea Wanzenried Zamora ^[1] ; Alejandra Cuatrín ^[1]
  1. [1] INTA EEA Rafaela
• Localización: Archivos Latinoamericanos de Producción Animal, ISSN 1022-1301, ISSN-e 1022-1301, Vol. 22, Nº. 1-2, 2014
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • The objective of this study was to characterize honey produced in the central area of Santa Fe province, Argentina. Honey samples (134, produced from 2005/2006 to 2009/2010), considered by farmers to be single-flowered of clover or alfalfa were analyzed physicochemically, palynologically and by sensorial analyses. Thirty-six botanic families were identified in the samples, but only 5 families were observed in >50% of them. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) was found in 72% of the samples; however its pollen was of minor importance in 81% of the cases. Clover pollen (Trifolium sp and, Melilotus sp.) associated with that of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and Lotus sp was observed in 89% of the samples, but in only 8% of the cases was its concentration >45%, percentage required to be considered as clover single-flowered honey, according to the National Legislation. When clover, alfalfa and lotus pollen constituted 20% or more of the total pollen, chemical and sensorial changes were observed and non-significant differences were observed between honeys with 20-45% and those with >45% of this pollen. Honeys with 20% of clover pollen showed lower humidity, color, acidity, glucose and fructose in comparison with honeys of