Palynological and physico‐chemical characterisation of honeys from the north‐west of Santa Cruz (Argentinean Patagonia)

Thirty Apis mellifera L. honey samples collected between 2004 and 2008 were analysed. Most of the samples had a moderate to low pollen content (number of pollen grains in 10 g of honey: NPG 0 = 55 654), with the honeydew indicators scarce or absent. All the samples presented low values of hydroxymethylfurfural and free acidity. Moisture, ash content, conductivity and diastase activity were according to international standards. The degree of colour varied from white to amber. Qualitative pollen analysis showed the presence of 63 types from 36 families, with Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Apiaceae being the most frequent. Four samples were classified as multifloral and 26 as unifloral. Thirteen unifloral samples were from Melilotus spp. (Fabaceae), and 13 were from Mulinum spinosum (Cav.) Pers. (Apiaceae). Melilotus spp. honey from the study site is characterised by its moderate to low pollen content (0 = 35 329), light colour (4–42 mm Pfund) and free acidity ranging between 9 and 20 meq/kg. Mulinum spinosum honey contained a moderate to high pollen content (0 = 68 120), amber colour (34–97.1 mm Pfund) and free acidity between 15 and 31 meq/kg. Thirty‐one percent of the pollen types were from native taxa, some of which indicate the geographical identity to these honeys.