Melissopaynological Study of Albania’s Honey

Abstract

A total of 30 samples of honey were collected from the beekeepers throughout different regions of Albania and analysed for their pollen grains content and control of botanical origin. Honey sediments obtained from honey samples were processed based on the method of basic fuchsine and acetolysis. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of pollen grains in honey was done based on the methodology given by Maurizio and the terms of the pollen grains frequencies approved by the International Commission for Bee Botany. 16 out of 30 samples of honey were polyfloral and the rest unifloral. The majority of monofloral honey was characterised by the presence of genus of Castanea, Arbutus and Erica pollen. The presence of few pollen grains of genus such as Tilia, Rubus and Artemisia, were identified in only one honey sample. It was concluded that the most preferable plants for the bees are those of the genus of Erica, Arbutus, Castanea, Artemisia, Tilia, Rubus, Lotus, Trifolium, Filipendula, Crepis, Thymus, Quercus, Rosa, Centaurea, Coronilla, Anchusa etc. Honey samples collected from different regions of Albania were natural, pure and unprocessed termically.

DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2016.v5n3s1p261