Characterisation of Tasmanian leatherwood (Eucryphia lucida) honey according to geographical origin

In this study, the chemical composition, physico-chemical properties and antioxidant activities of leatherwood honey from different locations with different climate across Tasmania were compared. Concentrations of 14 volatiles in the GC-MS profiles, 9 volatiles in the GC-FID profiles and 29 phenolic compounds in the HPLC-DAD/MS profiles along with pH, electrical conductivity, colour, hydrogen peroxide accumulation and antioxidant activity differed significantly between South and North samples. Correlations were found between beehive elevation and four unknown compounds U226 (R² = 0.64), U169 (R² = 0.68), U28 (R² = 0.91) and U170 (R² = 0.57). Annual rainfall was correlated with an unknown compound with a mass to charge ratio of m/z 181 (R² = 0.40) and annual solar exposure was correlated with methyl syringate (R² = 0.42), ellagic acid (R² = 0.44) and two unknown compounds with mass to charge ratios of m/z 315 (R² = 0.53) and m/z 181 (R² = 0.67).