Bibliometric Assessment of Scientific Research on Honey Produced in Türkiye

This study aims to bibliometrically examine the evolution of scientific research on honey originating from Türkiye between 1995 and 2025, revealing the structural characteristics, thematic developments, and future research opportunities within the literature. Research on the chemical structure, antioxidant capacity, and toxicological effects of honey is critical for both food safety and health. Bibliometric analyses indicate that 445 publications were produced during this period, with the annual number of publications increasing sharply, particularly after 2010, and peaking in 2023. Thematic analyses show that the literature is concentrated along four main axes: (1) physicochemical properties and botanical origin, (2) antioxidants and biological activities, (3) contamination and food safety, and (4) mad honey and grayanotoxins. "Antioxidant," "botanical origin," and "physicochemical properties" are prominent themes, while the emphasis on "mad honey" and "grayanotoxin" demonstrates the strength of these emerging topics. Türkiye's central position in this field and its expanding collaboration networks with Europe and the US reflect the growing global landscape of honey research and the maturation of the field. The study highlights critical needs for future research: refining heavy metal and storage policies, developing reliable methods for identifying and determining the origin of honey species (e.g., metabolomic analyses), and expanding comprehensive research on honeys unique to Türkiye, such as cedar, fir, oak, and pine honeys, which have received limited attention, are identified as key strategies.