Pollen and organoleptic analysis of honeys in Leon province (Spain)

We studied 39 honey samples collected in Leon province, of which pollen and organoleptic analyses were made. According to the pollen spectra recorded, most of them were monofloral (23) and 16 were multifloral. Erica honeys were the most abundant monofloral sa mples (9), Costanea sativa came next with 5; there were 3 samples of Helian thus annuus and 3 others of Lotus corniculatus and 1 of Rubus ulmifolius, E chium and Scrophularia canina pollen type respectively. The monofloral ches tnuts honeys presented a minor pollen diversity. 108 pollen types were reco rded, which belonged to 41 families. Fabaceae, Rosaceae and Ericaceae were the most represented families in the honeys studied. Cytisus scoparius and Rubus ulmifolius were the pollen types, which appeared in the highest numbe r of samples. Certain pollen types such as Lavandula stoechas and Cistus la danifer can be used as indicator or key elements in order to recognise the origin zone of honeys in the biogeographical Mediterranean region. As regards organoleptic analyses, most of our honeys (multiflorales, Erica, Rubus ulmifolius, Castanea sativa), samples are brown, not very sweet and present a homogeneous aspect, the other honeys have lighter colours, are sw eeter and also have an homogeneous aspect (Helianthus annuus, Lotus cornicu latus, Echium and Scrophularia canina-type).