Physicochemical properties, phytohormone profiles and quality assessment of honey from the Çoruh Valley of Türkiye

In this study, seventeen floral honey samples collected from Türkiye’s Çoruh Valley were examined and a total of 59 parameters were analyzed to evaluate their quality attributes. Accordingly, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), diastase activity, fructose, glucose, sucrose, total fructose + glucose (F + G), the fructose/glucose ratio (F/G), color and δ13C isotope values were determined together with amino acid profiles, organic acid composition, mineral contents, and phytohormone profiles. All chemical and biological data were evaluated using multivariate statistical approaches, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Pearson correlation analysis and Hierarchical Clustering Analysis (HCA), to characterize similarities and differences among the samples. The analytical results demonstrated that honeys from this region comply with established quality standards and exhibit natural purity, balanced chemical composition, and favorable nutritional properties. The detection of diverse phytohormone types and concentrations across the samples, as revealed by the analyses, indicates a rich biochemical signature originating from plant sources. This finding also highlights the functional properties, biological value, and nutritional significance of these honeys. Overall, the results confirm that the floral honeys obtained from Türkiye’s Çoruh Valley are high-quality products in terms of both chemical and biological properties.