Caracterização de méis da região do Baixo Jaguaribe-CE.

Abstract

The honeys (Apis mellifera) produced in seven cities of the Low Jaguaribe Region – Ceará have been characterized by determining the moisture, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), reducing sugars, apparent sucrose, ash, free acidity, pH, insoluble solids in water, diastasic activity and viscosity under five temperatures (20, 25, 30, 35, 40ºC). The honey produced in Limoeiro do Norte was stored during 180 days in two types of container, plastic and metallic, and its characteristics were monitored during the storage period by means of the moisture content, HMF, reducing sugars, apparent sucrose, ash, free acidity, insoluble solids in water, diastasic activity, pH, oBrix. Moisture and free acidity have been determined using the AOAC method. HMF, reducing sugars and apparent sucrose have been determined using the LANARA method. Ash, insoluble solids in water have been determined according to CAC. Viscosities have been determined using a Brookfield iscometer, model RVT. Experimental viscosities data were fitted by means of an Arrhenius equation, which represented properly the effect of temperature on the viscosity of the honeys, provided the three storage times observed. Storage time, as it has been observed, did not produced any reduction or increasing effects on the viscosities, unlike temperature, which was responsible for the reduction of viscosity in all cases studied. The activation energy (Ea) data of the honeys produced in all cities reached a difference of 33% both in São João do Jaguaribe and Morada Nova. The Tabuleiro do Norte and Morada Nova cities were responsible for the biggest and the smallest average viscosity, with differences up to 68.4%. Physical-chemical analysis carried out with the honeys produced in the cities studied match the standards established by the national and Mercosul legislations, except for the HMF (in all cities except Alto Santo). As for free acidity, the honeys produced in Limoeiro do Norte, Aracati and Quixeré showed an out-of-standard result. As for the statistic analysis of these parameters, the reducing sugars and the apparent sucrose did not differ statistically among the cities. However, HMF, ash, pH, diastasic activity and free acidity differed statistically at the level of 5% of probability. The analysis of the stored samples lead to the conclusion that the physical-chemical variables have matched the standards established by the effective legislation, except for HMF, which after 180 days of storage revealed superior values for both types of containers. The plastic container offered a better conservation of the following parameters: reducing sugars, HMF, moisture, ash, and free acidity. The metallic container provided a better preservation to the apparent sucrose, as well as to insoluble solids in water and to the diastasic activity.