Warui Mary Wanjiru, Hansted Lise, Gikungu Mary, Mburu John, Kironchi Geoffrey, Bosselmann Aske Skovmand
Department of Land Resource Management and Agricultural Technology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Nairobi, Kenya.
Danish Beekeepers Association, Fulbyvej 15, Sorø, 4180, Denmark.
Int J Food Sci. 2019 Jan 10;2019:2932509. doi: 10.1155/2019/2932509. eCollection 2019.
Properties and composition of honey are essential in providing information regarding their quality as well as in their differentiation based on production region characteristics, e.g., floral sources. This paper presents physicochemical properties and floral sources (botanical origin) of 21 honey samples obtained from arid and semiarid areas of Kenya, specifically, West Pokot, Baringo, and Kitui Counties. Physicochemical parameters which were analyzed to determine honey quality included moisture content, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), diastase activity, free acidity, and electrical conductivity. Values of these parameters were compared with those of the existing local, regional, and international standards for honey. Melissopalynological analysis (pollen analysis) was also carried out to provide information on botanical origin of the honeys. Results showed mean parameter values of moisture, 16.34%; HMF, 23.28 mg/kg; diastase activity, 10.67 Schade units; free acidity, 22.95 meq/kg; and electrical conductivity, 0.40 mS/cm. Free acidity and electrical conductivity values of honey samples obtained from West Pokot were significantly lower than the values of honeys from Baringo and Kitui. Eighteen (18) honey samples had all parameter values within the limits set in the East African, Codex Alimentarius, and the European Union directive standards for honey. Results also showed a total of 29 pollen types in the honey samples analyzed, and . was the predominant pollen type in 4 of the 21 honey samples. Findings of this study showed that Kenyan origin honeys can tap into the existing regional and international markets based on their quality which can be attributed to their botanical origin. Results of this study also suggested that honey producers have undertaken appropriate measures in honey harvesting, processing, handling, and storage. However, there is a need to build capacity of producers whose honey were of unacceptable quality. This would involve training on proper honey production, processing, and handling practices as well establishment of honey collection and processing centres at the local level in order to improve honey quality. This will enhance access to existing honey markets. Conservation of bee floral sources would also be needed to maintain honey quality.
蜂蜜的特性和成分对于提供其质量信息以及基于生产地区特征（如花卉来源）进行区分至关重要。本文介绍了从肯尼亚干旱和半干旱地区，特别是西波科特、巴林戈和基图伊县采集的21个蜂蜜样本的物理化学性质和花卉来源（植物来源）。为确定蜂蜜质量而分析的物理化学参数包括水分含量、羟甲基糠醛（HMF）、淀粉酶活性、游离酸度和电导率。将这些参数的值与现有的当地、区域和国际蜂蜜标准进行了比较。还进行了蜂蜜花粉分析（花粉分析），以提供有关蜂蜜植物来源的信息。结果显示，水分的平均参数值为16.34%；HMF为23.28毫克/千克；淀粉酶活性为10.67沙德单位；游离酸度为22.95毫当量/千克；电导率为0.40毫西门子/厘米。从西波科特采集的蜂蜜样本的游离酸度和电导率值明显低于来自巴林戈和基图伊的蜂蜜值。18个蜂蜜样本的所有参数值均在东非、食品法典委员会和欧盟蜂蜜指令标准规定的范围内。结果还显示，在所分析的蜂蜜样本中共有29种花粉类型，并且在21个蜂蜜样本中的4个样本中，[此处原文缺失具体花粉类型名称]是主要的花粉类型。本研究结果表明，肯尼亚原产蜂蜜因其质量（这可归因于其植物来源）能够打入现有的区域和国际市场。本研究结果还表明，蜂蜜生产者在蜂蜜收获、加工、处理和储存方面采取了适当措施。然而，有必要提高那些蜂蜜质量不合格的生产者的能力。这将包括培训适当的蜂蜜生产、加工和处理方法，以及在地方一级建立蜂蜜收集和加工中心，以提高蜂蜜质量。这将增加进入现有蜂蜜市场的机会。还需要保护蜜蜂的花卉来源以保持蜂蜜质量。
