Quality of Brazilian stingless bee honeys: Cephalotrigona capitata/mombucão and Melipona scutellaris Latrelle/uruçu

Food Chem. 2023 Mar 15;404(Pt B):134306. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.134306. Epub 2022 Sep 17.

Abstract

Honeys produced by stingless bees Cephalotrigona capitata and Scutellaris Latrelle in the Caatinga and Atlantic Forest biomes were characterized in terms of chemical composition, antioxidant activity and phenolic, volatile and sensory profile. 'Mombucão' honey showed higher water activity, acidity, % sucrose and % organic acids, while 'uruçu' honey showed the highest % fructose and glucose. Nineteen phenolic compounds and flavonoids were quantified, with emphasis on epicatechin gallate, myricetin, quercetin and procyanidin A2. 'Mombucão' honey stood out with the highest to antioxidant activity. A total of 133 volatile compounds were identified in honeys, with emphasis on terpenes (41) and esters (26). 'Mombucão' honey presented a differentiated sensory profile and was characterized by the prevalence of acid and citrus aroma and flavor, while 'uruçu' honey presented a more characteristic sweet and woody aroma and flavor. The variability in the composition of honeys probably resulted from bee species, floral species and geographic origins.

Keywords: Biome; Meliponini; Phenolics; Physicochemical; Sensory; Volatiles.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants
  • Bees
  • Brazil
  • Honey* / analysis
  • Odorants / analysis
  • Phenols / analysis
  • Taste

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Phenols