Palynological characterization of sweet chestnut honeys from Galicia (NW Spain)

Abstract

We study 83 honey samples from Galicia, with percentages higher than 70% of Castanea pollen. The 46% of the samples show percentages of this pollen between 70% and 79%, the 43% show values between 80% and 89% and the rest (11%) values higher than 89%. The mean of pollen types was 21 and the honeydew index was zero or very low for all the samples. Related to the pollen content, the samples have an average of 26.384 pollen grains per gramme of honey. Other pollen types appearing in these honey are: Rubus, Erica, Eucalyptus, Cytisu, and Campanula. This honey type is produced, principally, in Lugo and Ourense provinces. In Lugo, the center area and the eastern mountains are the main important production localities. In Ourense, the honeys come from mountaineous areas of Manzaneda, Queixa, San Mamede, the Sil valley and the limit of the province with Portugal. In Pontevedra Province, the main important production area is the Deza arca, while in A Coruña province its geographical origin is Northern. The main differences of the Galician chestnut honey with other Spanish honey of the same floral origin arc the absence of Lavandula stoechas, Cistus ladanifer, Clematis vitalba, Melilotus and the scarce of Calluna vulgaris.