Feasibility study on the botanical classification of calabrian honey by an E-tongue

The quality of honey has become a priority issue as a result of the number of abuses observed. Sugars and water represent the main chemical constituents of honey (>95%), whereas proteins, flavors and aromas, pigments, vitamins, free amino acids, and numerous volatile compounds constitute the minor components. This small percentage of the overall composition is mainly responsible for honey’s organoleptic and nutritional properties.[1] A number of tools and methods can be used by analysts for characterizing a honey of unknown origin. The most often used method at the current time is pollen analysis. Its use, require an expert user with a total understanding of the technique, furthermore the use of ultrafiltration will reduce the potential of this technique [2]. Therefore, new relevant criteria should be defined and implemented for characterizing a honey of unknown origin. So the aim of this work was the feasibility study on the botanical classification of calabrian honey using a new biomimetic system: e-tongue. Four honeys of Calabria region of different botanical origin (acacia, sulla, chestnut and citrus ) were analysed by electronic tongue (α-Astree, Alpha Mos, France). The classification of honey botanical origin was performed by statistical analysis PCA and DFA [3]. The initial data obtained shown that the e-tongue was able to separately discriminate monofloral honey samples, with a discrimination index of 86% for all samples. So this technique for honey botanical origin classification proved to be a good alternative to standards classification methods because it offered faster results with no loss of accuracy, furthermore there were no chemicals involved and a simple sample preparation procedure was required.