I

ANNO 3 Numero 2
Francesca-Vittoria Grillenzoni [1], Ivana Moreschi [2]

Preliminary characterisation studies about Valcamonica honeys

[1] CRA - Istituto Nazionale di Apicoltura , Bologna, Italy
[2] Laboratorio di Ecologia applicata, Parco dell'Adamello, Edolo, Brescia, Italy

Corresponding author: fgrillenzoni@inapicoltura.org

Valcamonica is an Alpine valley in Lombardy and most of its territory is included into the Adamello Natural Park and the Stelvio National Park. It therefore offers an ideal territory for the production of high quality honey.

A characterisation study has been undertaken to assist local beekeepers in increasing the value of their product. Honey samples from Valcamonica were analysed to enhance and differentiate this honey production from those of the other Alpine valleys. Sixty six samples were collected and submitted to sensory and melissopalynological analyses in order to determine their characteristic pollen spectra and the botanical origin.

The water content was measured too. Based on the results of the sensory and melissopalynological analyses, 20 samples were identified as multifloral, 22 as unifloral chestnut, 13 as unifloral lime, 4 as unifloral false acacia, 2 as honeydew and 1 as rhododendron.

The typical associations included Rubus f., Castanea, Fraxinus, Trifolium repens gr., Prunus f., Robinia, Salix, Tilia and Graminaceae. Most of these pollen types belong to widely growing species, but the spectrum of these honeys is also geographically characterised to a significant degree by Sambucus nigra, Myosotis, Lilium f., Thymus serpyllum and Rhododendron.