Abstract:
Honey is a natural sweet sticky and viscous solution produced by bees from the nectar of flowers
or from living parts of plants. The physicochemical and biochemical parameters of honeys are
essential for monitoring of the quality of the products, and for proper handling and storages. In
the present study, physicochemical and biochemical characteristics of mining and honey bees’
products from the Jimma Rare district, Horo Guduru Wollaga Zone, Ethiopia were investigated.
The study was conducted on 2 honey bees and 3 mining bee honeys samples which were
harvested in January, April and August of 2019. The average mean ± standard deviation value of
moisture content, electrical conductivity, pH value, acidity, total ash, water insoluble matter,
color analysis, sugar content and Hydroxylmethylfurfural of homogenized bee hive honey
samples were 17 ± 0.003%, 0.54 ± 0.002mS/cm, 3.72 ± 0.118, 25.8 ± 0.144 meq/kg, 0.40 ±
0.004%, 0.13 ± 0.007%, 78.66 ± 0.006 mmpfund. 65.31 ± 0.071% and 30.54 ± 0.016 mg/kg,
respectively, and also the overall average for mining bee honeys from three different holes of this
parameter were 25.67 ± 0.003%, 1.13 ± 0.007 MS/cm, 3.00 ± 0.088, 229.20 ± 0.327 meq/kg ,
0.72 ± 0.001%,1.41 ± 0.049%, 258.16 ± 0.018 mmpfund , 159.22 ± 0.269% and 48.16 ±
0.013mg/kg respectively. The results of the study showed that physicochemical and biochemical
characteristics of honey bee products were lie within the ranges of national and international
standards for honeys. But mining bee honeys were significantly varied from honey bees honey
and were also not satisfy the national and international honey quality standards.
