Application report: specific rotation of honey

The specific rotation of honey is a quality parameter according to the International Honey Commission. This property is used in some countries, e.g. Italy, Greece, UK, to distinguish between blossom and honeydew honeys.

Blossom Honey or Nectar Honey is the honey which comes from the nectars of plants.

Honeydew Honey is the honey which comes mainly from the excretions of plant-sucking insects (Hemiptera) on the living parts of plants or the secretions of living parts of plants.

The total specific rotation of honey depends on the carbohydrate composition. The method can be applied to all honey samples. In particular, most honeydew honeys have positive specific rotations, while nectar honeys show negative rotations.

Click on the link above to download the Application Report and to learn about the polarimetric measurement.