Quality Characterization of Honeys from Iraqi Kurdistan and Comparison with Central European Honeys

TL;DR

This study analyzed honey from Iraqi Kurdistan and found it meets European quality standards, similar to Central European honeys despite different conditions.

Contribution

The study provides a novel comparison of Iraqi Kurdistan honeys with Central European honeys and evaluates them against EU quality standards.

Findings

Kurdistan honeys met European Union quality criteria.

Properties of Kurdistan honeys were similar to honeys from the Czech and Slovak Republics.

Honeys were analyzed for physicochemical and bioactive parameters.

Abstract

The main objective of this work was to determine the significant physicochemical and bioactive parameters of honeys originating from Iraqi Kurdistan. For this purpose, honey samples (n = 16) were taken directly from Kurdish beekeepers from different places of Dohuk and Erbil Governorate in 2018 and 2022. The following parameters were analyzed: moisture content, electrical conductivity, diastase activity, hydroxymethylfurfural content, pH, free acidity, content of saccharides, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, color, color intensity and DPPH, FRAP. Another objective of this work was to compare the properties of Kurdistan honeys with the requirements of European Union law and with the honeys of Central Europe. A total of 48 honey samples were included in the comparison. It was detected that the honeys produced in Iraqi Kurdistan met the strict quality criteria set by European law, which is important information for local beekeepers and experts in relation to honey production and an opportunity to set local limits of honey quality. Despite the different climatic and topographical conditions, the available flora, and the different species of bees, the properties of Iraqi Kurdistan honeys were similar to the properties of honeys from the Czech and Slovak Republics.

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