PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF STINGLESS BEE HONEY FROM Heterotrigona itam

Stingless bee honey from Meliponini species is less common than honey produced by honey bee from Apis species. However, the Meliponini has 50 times more species than Apis. This study aims to investigate the physicochemical characteristics of Malaysian stingless bee honey from Heterotrigona itama species. The samples of stingless bee honey were collected in UiTM Jengka, Pahang. Honey produced by Heterotrigona itama was taken selectively from five different logs. The physicochemical parameters tested were pH, ash content, acidity value, color intensity and moisture content. The pH of stingless bee ranged between 3.32±0.01 to 3.60±0.01. The colour of the honey is in the range of light amber to extra light amber. The ash content and acidity value of stingless bee honey samples ranged from 0.127±0.061 g/100g to 0.413±0.022 g/100g and 109±7.81 meq/kg to 135±8.66 meq/kg respectively. The moisture content value ranged from 23±0.50 % to 26.83±0.29 %. Except for the ash content, the physicochemical characteristic result of the honey obtained from different logs was nearly similar.