Identification of the botanical origin and determination of physicochemical parameters of honey samples collected from the «Sary-Chelek» biosphere reserve of Kyrgyzstan

Abstract

«Sary-Chelek» biosphere reserve is one of the richest rare flora and animal reserves in Kyrgyzstan. The natural environment of the «Sary-Chelek» biosphere reserve is exceptionally conducive to high-quality honey production. Producing monofloral honey in a nature landscape is challenging because, throughout the beekeeping season, multiple melliferous plants bloom at the same time. The botanical authenticity is the main factor influencing honey prices, as it has a direct impact on the quality of honey. The article describes for the first time the botanical origin and physicochemical characteristics of honey collected in this biosphere reserve and also determines the influence of the dominant honey plant on organoleptic, physicochemical, and food safety indicators. A total of 17 honey samples were collected from beekeepers in the territory of the «Sary-Chelek» biosphere reserve. In the samples, there were unique plant pollens: Salvia sp., Thymus sp., Eremurus sp., and Myosotis sp. Nine of the samples were monofloral honey—three of sage (Salvia sp.), four of thyme (Thymus sp.), and two of eremurus (Eremurus sp.), and eight samples were polyfloral honey. The organoleptic, physicochemical, and food safety parameters of the selected honey samples comply with the established norms and international standards.