Characterisation of Moroccan unifloral honeys by their physicochemical characteristics

Physicochemical parameters of 98 samples of Moroccan honeys were analysed; nine parameters were measured, including water content, pH, acidity (free, lactonic, total and lactonic acidity/free acidity ratio), hydroxymethylfurfural, diastase activity and proline. In addition, characterisation of the five unifloral honeys (Eucalyptus sp., Citrus sp., Lythrum sp., Apiaceae and honeydew) by principal component analysis (PCA) and stepwise discriminant analysis (SDA) was carried out. PCA showed that the cumulative variance was approximately 62%, and about 82% of the samples were correctly classified by using the stepwise discriminant analysis, with the best results being obtained for the eucalyptus and honeydew honeys (100% correct). (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.