Nutraceutical properties of Romanian heather honey

Abstract

Purpose

The main purpose of this study is to create a complete physico‐chemical characterisation of Romanian heather honey.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 30 samples of heather honey were harvested from three different geographical areas (Fântânele, Călăţele, Mărişel) from Transylvania region (Romania). This study contains a complete characterization of heather honey regarding its physico‐chemical composition, total phenols content, flavonoids content, antioxidant activity (expressed as radical scavenging activity – RSA) and micro‐ and macroelements content.

Findings

The results obtained for the total phenols content and total flavonoids demonstrate that honey samples have good bioactive properties and the antioxidant activities are similar to those of dark honeys. Heather honeys normally have a high content of minerals, having their origin in soil. All quantified minerals in heather honey presented values higher that those reported for other types of honey.

Practical implications

Heather honey is a very important type of honey for consumers, which due to its features has a high price on the local market. This study provides the main analytical methods for honey quality determination, which is very important for the students.

Originality/value

For the first time in Romania a complete study of heather honey was done.

Citation

Moise, A., Mărghitaş Liviu, A., Dezmirean, D. and Bobis, O. (2013), "Nutraceutical properties of Romanian heather honey", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 43 No. 3, pp. 218-227. https://doi.org/10.1108/00346651311327864