A New Strategy for Rapid Classification of Honeys by Simple Cluster Analysis Method Based on Combination of Various Physicochemical Parameters

An array of real honey samples from 3 different botanical origins and 4 provinces of China, as well as two honeys with common adulterantswhite sugar and high fructose corn syrup(HFCS)], were analyzed with a new strategy of "simple cluster analysis" based on physicochemical parameters of honey. The results showed that the physicochemical parameters varied greatly for different honey samples. For example, the minimum conductivity of honey samples was less than 1/17 of the maximum value. Therefore, the physicochemical parameters could be used to distinguish different types of honey. The results are promising, as different kinds of testing honey were successfully discriminated into different groups, allowing us to verify the authenticity of honeys. Furthermore, this approach was followed to successfully analyze two honeys with common adulterants, which are difficult to be identified when they are mixed with true honeys. The results indicated the accuracy and reliability of the proposed strategy, and provided more references for the quality classification of honeys.