Productivity, Quality, and Consumer Preference Assessments of Wild Honeybee from Bangeris trees (Koompassia exselsa) in East Kalimantan

Abstract

Assessment of honeybee productivity of beekeeping has been widely researched,but there was no data about honey productivity of wild honeybees. This research aimed to determine honey productivity and quality of wild and beekeeping honeybees as human healthy subjects. Honey quality assessment tested were relative density, sugar content, water content, viscosity, and color parameters, i.e. L*, a*, and b*. Further, consumer sensory tests were conducted for adequate commercial needs including color, taste, aroma, and appearance. The results of the study showed that wild honeybees were found in 19 Banggeris trees and 17 trees had beehives that had produced honeycombs. Wild honeybees produced the highest honey production of 160 liter/tree, with an average of 41.70 liter/honeycomb. This study recommended the optimum honeycomb in the same tree was three honeycombs to avoid honey productivity decreased. Whereas honey quality from wild honeybees was determined relative density of 1.35, sugar content of 75.55 Brix, water content of 30.86 %, and viscosity of 581 mm²/s. Wild honeybees produce more honey than beekeeping. There were significant differences between them in pH, viscosity, and soluble sugar parameters. Consumer sensitivity levels also differ between the two products; consumers tend to be more sensitive to the wild honeybees’ taste, color, aroma, and appearance, respectively.