Quality evaluation of some honey from the central region of Algeria

The quality of sixteen samples of Apis mellifera L. honey, from the center of Algeria, was evaluated by determining the physico-chemical characteristics. The following determinations were carried out: water content, total sugar, electrical conductivity, ash, pH, acidity (free, lactone, and total), hydroxylmethylfurfural (HMF) and color. The physicochemical parameters found are within acceptable ranges: water 13.36–17.93%, total sugar 80.17-84.73%, pH 3.58–4.72, total acidity 17.97-49.1 meq/kg, electrical conductivity 2.75×10-4 –7.19×10-4 S/cm, ash 0.075–0.33%, and color 4.1–9.2 Pfund index. The analysis of HMF showed that the majority of samples were exposed to a high temperature during processing or storage.