Author

PRABHA TIWARI AND PREETI NAITHANI

Department of Botany and Microbiology, HNB Garhwal University, (A Central University), Srinagar Garhwal 246174, Uttarakhand, India, Email. preetinai86@rediffmail.com

Abstract

The physicochemical properties of 13 honey samples from different localities of Garhwal Himalayan region were evaluated for moisture, color, specific gravity, ash, acidity, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), total reducing sugars (TRS), fructose, glucose, sucrose and pollen contents. The moisture content ranged from 16.8 - 20.8 %. Total reducing sugars, fructose and glucose were between 34.733-38.938%, 33.708-38.146% and 68.45-76.67% respectively, whereas sucrose % ranged from 0.38-0.52%. Out of 13 honey samples, 9 showed moderate, 3 exhibited rapid and 2 samples expressed lower granulation tendency. The study revealed that the honey samples collected from Garhwal Himalaya are appropriate to the quality standards of Codex Alimenatrius Commission and Food Safety and Standard Authority of India. The botanical evaluation showed that out of 13 samples, 7 were unifloral and 6 multifloral. The important plants associated with the samples were Adhatoda zeylanica, Aesculus indica, Alnus nepalensis, Berberis asiatica, Brassica campestris, Callistemon citrinus, Citrus pseudolimon, Citrus sinensis, Litchi chinensis, Lyonia ovalifolia, Myrica esculenta, Murraya koenigii, Pyrus pashia, Rubus ellipticus, Rhododendron arboreum, Syzygium cumini, Eucalyptus spp., etc. 

Key Words: Honey, Garhwal Himalaya, Pollen, physicochemical analysis

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