HONEY PRODUCTION IN FOREST AREAS: CHARACTERIZATION OF 5 HONEY SAMPLES FROM SOUTHERN COTE D'IVOIRE

Abstract

The objective of this study is to determine the quality and define the different classes of honeys produced in the Ivorian forest region according to their pollen content. This involves the analysis of five honey samples from the sub-prefecture of Cechi. Four of the honey samples were wild-harvested, and one was from experimental beekeeping in the Cechi reserve. A total of 54 pollen taxa were identified. The most represented botanical families are: Fabaceae (9 species, or 16.67%), Apocynaceae, and Combretaceae, each with 5 species, or 9.27%. The pollen taxon richness of the honeys varies from 18 to 34 taxa. Most are polyfloral honeys, with the exception of the honey from the reserve, which contains 66.13% Bridelia micrantha pollen (Euphorbiaceae), a monofloral honey. These samples contain highly variable pollen content and fall into three categories of honey: honeys rich in pollen, honeys very rich in pollen, and honeys extremely rich in pollen, attesting to their high quality and natural origin.