Investigation on aroma compounds of citrus honey and the relation between nectar sources

In this study, aroma profiles of citrus honey and citrus flowers, which were supplied in Antalya, were investigated and the relationsip between aroma profiles of honey and flowers were compared. The aim of the study was to determine in common volatile compounds of citrus honey and citrus flowers. It was employed four different applications (only honey, honey-water, honey-water- salt and ultrasound treatment to honey-water-salt solution) to be able to find the best seperation method of volatile compounds of honey samples.. Aroma profiles of the honey samples were realized using by SPME/ GC-MS. The volatile compounds of the flowers were analysed using two different methods which are liquid injection of essential oils and SPME.A 65 µm PDMS/DVB fiber was used to analysis the composition of headspace aroma of honey and flowers. Additionally, water activity, moisture, brix, diastase number, pH, acidity (free, lactone and total acidity), color and electrical conductivity of citrus honey samples were measured. Water activity, moisture, brix, diastase number, pH, free acidity (meq.kg-1), electrical conductivity of honey samples were determined as 0.59 ± 0.02, 18.30 ± 0.37% , 80.29 ± 0.42%, 1.55 ± 0.45 DN, 4.12 ± 0.02, 13.80 ± 0.90 and 0.15 ± 0.01 mS.cm-1 respectively . The color of citrus honey was mesured as L*= 22.33, a*= -0.0006 and b*= 4.3. In all extraction applications of citrus honey, totally 51different volatile components were identified. 38 volatile compounds were found in the essential oils of citrus flowers but in headspace composition 68 components were identified. Benzaldeyhde, limonene, linalool and methyl anthranilate were common volatile compounds in aroma profiles of citrus flower and citrus honey samples. Additionally, linalool and linalool derivates were unique aroma compounds in citrus honey and these were identified in samples both citrus honey and citrus flowers.