Effect of storage on various honey quality parameters of Apis dorsata honey from Nepal

Nepalese honey samples stored for 8 months showed ph in the range of 3.9-4.6,free acidity 48.5-53meq/kg,lactone 15.5-17.1meq/kg,total acidity 61-70meq/kg,electrical conductivity 0.24-0.64ms/cm,proline content 148-241mg/kg,hmf content 53.4-122mg/kg,diastase number 1.02-13.25dn and invertase number 0.58-10.5in. after 16 months of storage the various parameters recorded were: ph 3.7-5.08,free acidity 46. l-57.07meq/kg,lactone 17-19meq/kg,total acidity 64-74meq/kg,electrical conductivity 0.29-0.71ms/cm,proline content 66.43-120mg/kg. hmf content were beyond international maximum limit even after 8 months storage. similarly diastase number (0.22-0.86ddn) and invertase number (00-0.71 in) were much below than the minimum standard. although honey produced by a. dorsata from nepalese forest showed various quality parameters close to international honey quality standards,yet its shelf life was shorter due to high moisture content. copyright 2013 zoological society of pakistan.