Origen botánico y composición nutricional de la miel producida en Galicia

Laburpena

Beekeeping is an important agricultural activity in some rural areas of Galicia (NW Spain). There are more than 90000 hives, with an annual production of 1500 tons of honey, the most important bee product. There is no significant transhumance and the honey harvesting is realized only once a year between July and September. The honey has principally a local market, but during the last decade some honey companies starting to export the product to other countries. In 2007, the Protected Geographical Indication Mel de Galicia was registered in the Register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications of the European Union. The Autonomous Community of Galicia produces multifloral honey and unifloral honeys mainly of chestnut, bramble, eucalyptus and heather. Actually, the honey price not varies according to the botanical origin of the product, but the interest of consumers for honeys with specific sensorial characteristics, has revealed differences in honey demand and so an increase in its price. At the same time, the concern for a healthy and balanced diet becomes necessary to differentiate natural products, correctly labeled and with information on their nutritional composition. The chemical composition of honey varies widely depending on the floral origin, geographical origin, climatic conditions, state of maturity, processing techniques and also of the storage (Anklam, 1998; Azeredo et al., 2003; Ruoff et al., 2007; Zandamela, 2008). In this sense, the Doctoral Thesis presented contributes to the characterization and differentiation of unifloral honeys produced in Galicia, taking into account their palynological, physico-chemical and nutritional characteristics and the quantification of polyphenolic compounds.