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production represented less than 1% of the 2014 total sugar production (Tridge
2019). However, because of the growing preference of consumers for healthier
sugar alternatives and functional food, global consumption by the year 2024 is
expected to hit 2.8 million tons (Global Industry Analysts, Inc. 2019).
11.2 Classification of Honey and their Distribution
There are 2 major classes of honey based on whether they come from flower
nectars (called Blossom or Nectar Honey), or if they chiefly are excretions of
plants or plant sucking Hemipterans insect (called Honeydew Honey). The differences in the relative amount of the fructose and glucose is used to determine if the
honey is unifloral blossom honey (Bogdanov et al. 2004).The types of minor
sugars in blossom honey, however, do not vary since they are products of the
enzyme invertase. Between honeydew and blossom honey, greater amounts of
oligosaccharides are found in honeydew honey, including melezitose and raffinose
that are absent in blossom honey.
There are over 300 types of honey in the world today. Depending on the botanical and geographical origin of the honey, there will be variations in the appearance,
taste, and composition of the honey (Bogdanov et al. 2008). Blossom honey types
are named based on the plant species honey is derived from. For example, the source
of the Manuka honey is the manuka bush (Leptospermum spp.) found in Asia and
New Zealand, and Heather honey from heather (Erica spp. or Calluna vulgaris)
mainly from Europe and Asia. Clover honey from Europe or Asia contain nectar
from Trifolium spp. Eucalyptus honey from America is composed of Eucalyptus
nectar (Bogdanov et al. 2015).
Multifloral blossom honey are commonly labelled as blossom or nectar blend.
Honeydew honey types are not as many as blossom honeys, and are named based on
where they were taken (e.g. forest honeydew, beach forest honeydew, tree honey,
bug honey, or flea honey). Honey may also be named according to the method of its
removal from the comb (i.e. extracted honey, pressed honey, drained honey, comb
honey, or honey with comb).
11.3 Honey as Functional Food
While the two main purposes of food are to provide nutrition and to give satisfaction
to the body, a third purpose of food has emerged after mounting proof coming from
scientific researches worldwide. This is functional foods, and it refers to “foods that
have a potentially beneficial effect on health when consumed as part of a varied diet
on a regular basis at effective levels” (Hasler 2002).
Honey stands among these functional foods whose natural production has not been
significantly modified since its discovery. Honey is a healthier alternative to table sugar
M. C. B. Otero and L. Bernolo
production represented less than 1% of the 2014 total sugar production (Tridge
2019). However, because of the growing preference of consumers for healthier
sugar alternatives and functional food, global consumption by the year 2024 is
expected to hit 2.8 million tons (Global Industry Analysts, Inc. 2019).
11.2 Classification of Honey and their Distribution
There are 2 major classes of honey based on whether they come from flower
nectars (called Blossom or Nectar Honey), or if they chiefly are excretions of
plants or plant sucking Hemipterans insect (called Honeydew Honey). The differences in the relative amount of the fructose and glucose is used to determine if the
honey is unifloral blossom honey (Bogdanov et al. 2004).The types of minor
sugars in blossom honey, however, do not vary since they are products of the
enzyme invertase. Between honeydew and blossom honey, greater amounts of
oligosaccharides are found in honeydew honey, including melezitose and raffinose
that are absent in blossom honey.
There are over 300 types of honey in the world today. Depending on the botanical and geographical origin of the honey, there will be variations in the appearance,
taste, and composition of the honey (Bogdanov et al. 2008). Blossom honey types
are named based on the plant species honey is derived from. For example, the source
of the Manuka honey is the manuka bush (Leptospermum spp.) found in Asia and
New Zealand, and Heather honey from heather (Erica spp. or Calluna vulgaris)
mainly from Europe and Asia. Clover honey from Europe or Asia contain nectar
from Trifolium spp. Eucalyptus honey from America is composed of Eucalyptus
nectar (Bogdanov et al. 2015).
Multifloral blossom honey are commonly labelled as blossom or nectar blend.
Honeydew honey types are not as many as blossom honeys, and are named based on
where they were taken (e.g. forest honeydew, beach forest honeydew, tree honey,
bug honey, or flea honey). Honey may also be named according to the method of its
removal from the comb (i.e. extracted honey, pressed honey, drained honey, comb
honey, or honey with comb).
11.3 Honey as Functional Food
While the two main purposes of food are to provide nutrition and to give satisfaction
to the body, a third purpose of food has emerged after mounting proof coming from
scientific researches worldwide. This is functional foods, and it refers to “foods that
have a potentially beneficial effect on health when consumed as part of a varied diet
on a regular basis at effective levels” (Hasler 2002).
Honey stands among these functional foods whose natural production has not been
significantly modified since its discovery. Honey is a healthier alternative to table sugar
M. C. B. Otero and L. Bernolo