SPME/GC/MS and sensory flavour profile analysis for estimation of authenticity of thyme honey

Volatiles of six commercially obtained thyme honey samples and a pure thyme honey sample were extracted and analysed by Solid phase micro extraction (SPME)/Gas chromatography (GC)/Mass spectrometry (MS) procedure. Excess amount of volatiles such as thymol (trace) and carvacrole (0.66%) that originate from thyme plants indicated adulteration by thyme essential oil in one of the commercial samples. Sensory flavour profile analysis showed that the flavour of pure thyme honey sample consisted of: sweet, honey, lilac, bitter almond, thyme, violet, waxy, sour, ginger, caramel and rose characters. Adulterated honey was detected to be the sweetest sample involving intense thyme flavour without honey character. 3,4,5-Trimethoxybenzaldehyde which is a volatile not found in other unifloral honeys, seems to be a possible marker, but further studies with certified thyme honey samples are necessary in order to confirm the utility of this compound in estimation of authenticity.