Sunflower honey

Sunflower is widely grown for its oily seeds in many European countries, above all in Eastern and Southern Europe.

In those regions sunflower is an important source of nectar and pollen for bees.

Sunflower pollen content in the honey varies greatly, from less than 20% to more than 90%.

In the European data, Helianthus pollen averaged 56.7% (SD 24.2, n = 229), with a reported range of 12.0 to 92.0% that the authors present as covering 95% of samples.

Sensory analysis describes its colour tone as bright yellow.

Colour averaged 52.4 mm Pfund (SD 9.0, n = 189), with a reported range of 35.0 to 70.1 mm Pfund that the authors present as covering 95% of samples.

Its odour and aroma are both described as floral and fresh fruit (fruity), warm and vegetal.

Electrical conductivity averaged 0.34 mS/cm (SD 0.08, n = 272), with a reported range of 0.23 to 0.51 mS/cm that the authors present as covering 95% of samples.

Glucose averaged 37.4 g/100 g (SD 1.5, n = 177), with a reported range of 34.5 to 40.4 g/100 g that the authors present as covering 95% of samples.

Fructose averaged 39.2 g/100 g (SD 1.6, n = 178), with a reported range of 36.1 to 42.4 g/100 g that the authors present as covering 95% of samples.

The glucose to water ratio averaged 2.10 (SD 0.13, n = 153), with a reported range of 1.84 to 2.35 that the authors present as covering 95% of samples.

The honey crystallises quickly and often hard, because of its high glucose content.