Caracterización físicoquímica de miel de angelita Tetragonisca angustula (Latreille, 1811) producida en Esmeraldas, Ecuador

Abstract

In Ecuador the mega-biodiversity is also present in the honey produced in cerumen pots, which are not included in the technical quality norms of the Ecuadorian Institute of Norms NET INEN 1572. The honey norms only refer to the honey produced by the comercial honey bee Apis mellifera. “Angelita” is the ethnic name of the stingless honey bee Tetragonisca angustula in Ecuador and in other Latin-American countries. In order to single out the honey of T. angustula, its physicochemical characterization was carried out according to conventional methods of quality indicators in standards for honey. The nitrogen content was determined by microKjeldahl. These are clear amber color honeys from 75 to 102 Pfund units. The physicochemical composition varied as follows: free acidity 22.50 – 25.20 meq/kg, reducing sugars 56.43 – 63.83 g/ 100g, ash 0.50 – 0.16 g /100 g, color 75 – 102 Pfund units, hydroximethylfurfural 0.44 – 1.41 mg/kg, moisture 23.1 – 25.2 g/100 g, nitrogen 33.66 – 85.78 mg/100 g, pH 3.66 – 4.22, apparent sucrose 1.46 – 2.36 g/100 g and water insoluble solids 0.03 – 0.07 g/100g.

Keywords

• physicochemical analysis
• angelita
• Ecuador
• honey
• Tetragonisca angustula