Physicochemical Characteristics and Microbiological Quality of Honey Produced in Benin
Table 4
Physicochemical characteristics of honey samples (means ± standard error) according to seasons and phytogeographical zones.
Seasons
Areas
Water content
pH
Free acidity
Ash content
Electrical conductivity
Total sugars
Reducing sugars
<20
3.2–4.5
(meq·kg−1)
(g/100g)
(μS/cm)
(g/100 g)
(g/100 g)
50
<0.6
≤0.8 ms/cm
>0.6
>0.6
Dry
Sudanian
12.59 ± 0.13a
3.65± 0.04b
35.67 ± 0.94b
0.42 ± 0.05a
698.50 ± 43.63a
64 ± 0.02b
70 ± 0.01a
S. Guinean
12.07 ± 0.11b
3.87 ± 0.08a
39.72 ± 1.05a
0.53 ± 0.05a
625.25 ± 58.81a
68 ± 0.004a
61 ± 0.01b
Guinean
12.12 ± 0.13b
3.67 ± 0.04b
40.52 ± 0.92a
0.50 ± 0.04a
583.25 ± 49.77a
70 ± 0.01a
60 ± 0.003b
Mean
12.26 ± 0.08B
3.73 ± 0.04B
38.63± 0.60A
0.49 ± 0.03A
635.67 ± 29.66A
68 ± 0.008A
64 ± 0.007A
Rainy
Sudanian
13.13 ± 0.32a
4.09 ± 0.10a
39.43 ± 1.39a
0.42 ± 0.05a
661.75 ± 64.96a
71 ± 0.008a
60 ± 0.008a
S. Guinean
13.16 ± 0.41a
3.67 ± 0.08b
37.75 ± 0.89a
0.50 ± 0.05a
530.25 ± 59.94a
63 ± 0.008b
58 ± 0.001ab
Guinean
12.36 ± 0.34a
3.83 ± 0.06b
37.53 ± 0.81a
0.43 ± 0.06a
624.50 ± 41.57a
59 ± 0.008c
58 ± 0.002b
Mean
12.88 ± 0.21A
3.86 ± 0.05A
38.24 ± 0.61A
0.45 ± 0.03A
605.50 ± 32.80A
64 ± 0.007B
58 ± 0.003B
The means with different letters are significantly different with probability level of 5% according to Student-Newman-Keuls test. values according to Codex Alimentarius 2001.
