Simple and Rapid Characterization of Sarawak Stingless Bee Honey Using Melissopalynological and ATR-FTIR Analysis

Stingless bee honey (SBH) is gaining popularity for its unique flavour and potential nutritional and health benefits. Due to its low yield, SBH is usually more expensive than common honey. Moreover, SBH is also commonly sold as raw honey with higher moisture content, which could jeopardize its shelf life, quality, and safety if not stored properly. Therefore, a rapid method is required to characterize stingless bee honey for authentication and quality assurance. This study aimed to categorize SBH samples from Sarawak using two simple and rapid methods, namely the pollen or melissopalynological analysis and attenuated-total-reflectance Fourier-transform-infrared (ATR-FTIR). The melissopalynological analysis showed that all honey samples analyzed are multifloral honey. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) on the ATR-FTIR spectra clearly illustrated a clear separation between normal honey and SBH; and between raw SBH and processed SBH. Overall, this study provides important insights into the characterization of SBH from Sarawak using two simple and rapid methods. Further research could expand on these findings and contribute to the development of the SBH industry in Malaysia.