A paper-based optical tongue for characterization of iranian honey: Identification of geographical/botanical origins and adulteration detection.

Due to the numerous uses of honey as a food ingredient and its therapeutic properties, humans consume a lot of it. This study examines the differentiation between honey products derived from various botanical and geographic origins as well as honey products that contain various types of syrup used in honey adulteration. A colorimetric sensor array based on an electronic tongue and multivariate analysis was used to distinguish honey samples from various producing regions in Iran (Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Fars, and Bushehr provinces) and distinct botanical sources (Astragalus, Ziziphus, and Polyfloral). With the advantages of being quick, easy, and inexpensive, the colorimetric sensor array was able to discriminate the honey successfully. Using PLS-DA, the honey samples were classified according to botanical origin with 100% and 95% accuracies for training and cross-validation, respectively. Also, according to the PCA score plot, we were able to distinguish between different ratios of adulterated honey and syrup. The present work aims to use a chemometrics-based sensor array as a quick and non-destructive method for accurate honey classification and authentication. • A sensor array to distinguish pure honey from adulterated honey. • A paper microfluidic to discriminate honey samples of different botanical. • Discrimination between heated and unheated honey. • Identification of geographical origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]