Combined approach to studying authenticity markers following spatial, temporal and production practice trends in honey from Croatia

The confirmation of honey authenticity is an ongoing challenge. We investigated new authenticity markers (13 macro and trace elements, total phenolic (TP) content, antioxidant capacity) in 62 unifloral and multifloral honeys from Croatia as loadings for principal component analysis (PCA), taking into account the spatial, temporal and production practice variation and combining them with traditional tools for authentication of the botanical origin (melissopalynological, sensory and physicochemical analyses). PCA as a chemometric tool was compliant with basic statistical testing results (Mann–Whitney U test) figuring Ba and Mn, and also pointed to TP, antioxidant capacity parameters, Ca, K and Mg (PC1) as useful markers for discriminating chestnut honey from other unifloral and multifloral honeys. The first PC discerned deciduous honeydew honey sample fairly from nectar honey samples. Although some elements showed regional, seasonal and production practice differences, PCA was not able to discriminate between all groups clearly. Our nutritional assessment based on a calculation of the contribution to the Dietary Reference Value pinpointed deciduous honeydew honey, savory and chestnut honey with the highest daily mineral intake relevance among seven honey types.