Canudo-de-pito (Escallonia sp.) honey: a comprehensive analysis of quality, composition, and pollen identification

Canudo-de-pito honey (CPH) is produced by Apis mellifera bees using nectar from Escallonia plant species located in Santa Catarina’s plateau mountain region, Brazil. Despite the international recognition of its quality and great potential for market appreciation, the composition and quality of CPH remain unexploited. They could potentially contribute to further research and advancements in honey authentication processes. In this preliminary study, we investigate the pollen profile, quality parameters, color, minerals, and phenolic compounds of CPH samples. The frequency of pollen from different plant species was observed in CPH, in which four were described as monofloral (> 45%), and five showed a significant contribution of canudo-de-pito pollen (> 30%). The dominant color was light amber, and the quality parameters agreed with the international standards except for electrical conductivity (0.88–1.33 mS/cm) due to high concentrations of minerals, mainly potassium (1913.75–3022.34 mg/kg) when compared to floral honey. The main compounds quantified were the phenolic acids (abscisic, salicylic, and syringic) (6.54–75.61 μg/g). These results provided helpful knowledge about CPH composition, demonstrating its quality and peculiar characteristics.