CAFFEINE IN CITRUS FLOWERS CORRELATED WIT H CAFFEINE CONTENT OF CITRUS HONEYS

Twenty-five samples of different species of citrus flowers (orange, le mon, grapefruit, tangerine, mandarin, mandarin-like and two hybrids) w ere tested For caffeine content. Although caffeine was found in all sa mples, the high variability in content within the samples did not allo w a precise distinction to be made between the species. Caffeine conce ntration ranged from 4.61 mg/kg dry matter in a grapefruit sample (cv. ''Star Ruby'') to 30.92 mg/kg in a tangerine sample (cv. ''Clementine di Nules''). The presence of the alkaloid confirms that caffeine foun d in orange and citrus honeys probably comes from Rowers and is transf erred to the honey by bees. However, the results of this study do not permit the origin of orange and citrus honeys to be determined from th eir caffeine content.