Palynological analysis of honeys from Portugal

We analysed 80 samples of honey produced in Portugal during 1995. By means of their floral origin we characterized 63 unifloral honeys, with the follo wing honey types standing out: Lavandula, which were mostly from the centre -south of the country; Echium, produced in the Beira Alta, Alentejo and Alg arve regions; and Eucalyptus, characteristic of the Douro region. We also i dentified 3 unifloral heather honeys (Erica sp.) and one of sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa). The pollen content was variable, with the lowest values corresponding to the Lavandula honeys and the highest to the multifloral ho neys. We identified a very tow level of honeydew content in all of the hone ys, indicating the nectariferous origin of the samples. Some pollen indicat ors enable Portuguese unifloral honeys to be separated from those produced in Spain.