Honeydew honey

Conifer honeydew sources include silver fir (Abies alba) in Central and Northern Europe and Greek fir (Abies cephalonica) in Greece.

Broadleaf honeydew is produced in most of Europe, mainly from different oak (Quercus) species.

Under the microscope, honeydew honeys show numerous honeydew elements such as mould hyphae and spores and single-celled algae.

For silver fir (Abies alba) honeydew honey, sensory analysis describes the colour tone as a normal honey colour with green fluorescence.

For silver fir (Abies alba) honeydew honey, both the odour and the aroma are described as woody and warm.

Honeydew honey shows high values for colour, electrical conductivity and pH.

In the European data, electrical conductivity averaged 1.20 mS/cm (SD 0.22, n = 648), with a reported range of 0.85 to 1.63 mS/cm that the authors present as covering 95% of samples.

EU law defines honeydew honey as honey obtained mainly from excretions of plant sucking insects (Hemiptera) on the living parts of plants, or from secretions of living parts of plants.

The Codex Alimentarius standard uses the same idea: honey coming mainly from Hemiptera excretions on living plants or from secretions of living plant parts.

Under Directive 2001/110/EC, honeydew honey, chestnut honey and their blends must have an electrical conductivity of not less than 0.8 mS/cm, except blends with certain honeys the directive lists separately (such as heather, lime and eucalyptus).

The directive sets fructose plus glucose for honeydew honey, and its blends with blossom honey, at not less than 45 g/100 g.

In an annex meant for voluntary use by commercial partners, the Codex standard also gives a minimum electrical conductivity of 0.8 mS/cm for honeydew and chestnut honey and their blends.