Physicochemical parameters and mineral components in Vietnam honey as a promising tool for classifying biological origin of honeys

Abstract

Honey is known as a natural sweetener agent with high nutritional value and health benefits, especially premium honey because of its desirable flavour and medicinal properties. Because of this, honey has been a target of adulteration through the mixing of low-quality honey and mislabelling of the honey’s origin. The aim of this research considers the potential of using mineral and physicochemical data to authenticate the origin of honey. To this end, 40 samples of 8 botanica collected from 18 different regions of Vietnam were analysed for its metal contents (Na, K, Mg, Ca, Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, Co, As, Hg) and physicochemical parameters (pH and electrical conductivity). The data were processed by multivariate analysis, which allowed the classification of honey according to its botanical origin.