Characterization of physicochemical and antioxidant properties of Bayburt honey from the North-east part of Turkey

The aim of this study was to determine the physicochemical properties, bioactive substance content, and microbiological quality of sixty different honey samples collected from twelve different regions of Bayburt, Turkey. The samples were analyzed for their sugar, moisture, total phenolic, total flavonoid contents, and water activity, conductivity, pH values and colour, antiradical activity, and DSC properties. As a result of physicochemical analyses, it was determined that the samples examined complied with the standard values defined in the Turkish Food Codex in terms of the parameters examined. The results of the study showed that the total phenolic content (219.43-768.82 mg GAE kg⁻¹⁾, total flavonoid content (31.29-118.7 mg CAE kg⁻¹) and DPPH (12.98%-94.79%) parameters differ widely among the honey samples. A principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to correlate the characteristics of honey with honey samples collected from different regions. This is the first comprehensive and original report about the physicochemical properties of honey produced in Bayburt, a region close to the Anzer region where the most expensive honey, Anzer honey, is produced.