Changes in the chemical parameters during the production of água-mel from Portugal

Abstract

Água-mel is a honey-based traditional product typically produced in southern Portugal. The evolution of some parameters during its production using two distinct containers (aluminium and stainless steel with a water cooling system) and two heating sources (gas heating and electricity) were evaluated. All parameters, except moisture, increased over time, reaching a ‘plateau’ after 8 h of heating. Moisture, free acidity, HMF (hydroxymethylfurfural), colour, melanoidins, phenols and glucose depended on the producer and procedure for obtaining água-mel. Kinetic parameters and correlation coefficients were determined. In general, changes in parameters during água-mel production followed zero- and/or first-order kinetics, depending on the producer and heating system.

Keywords

• Container type
• first-order kinetic
• heating type
• zero-order kinetic