The Sensory Identity of Caatinga Honeys: From Pollen Profile to Consumer Response

Honey presents distinct sensory characteristics influenced by geographical and botanical origin. This study aimed to characterize the sensory identity of Apis mellifera honeys produced in the Caatinga region of Paraíba (Brazil) and to investigate their relationship with consumer perception. Twelve honey samples (mono- and polyfloral) were evaluated using a combination of Focus Group, Check-All-That-Apply (CATA), and affective tests. Initially, 551 sensory terms were generated through Focus Group sessions and reduced, through semantic and frequency analyses, to a structured sensory lexicon used to develop a sensory wheel comprising attributes of color, appearance, and aroma. Correspondence analysis revealed two main clusters: light-colored honeys, associated with sweet, floral, and fruity aromas and botanical sources such as Croton spp., Ziziphus spp., and Anadenanthera spp.; and dark-colored honeys, mainly from Mimosa spp., characterized by woody, toasted, and medicinal notes. Consumer responses indicated positive acceptance and purchase intention for all samples, with higher scores associated with light-colored honeys exhibiting floral and sweet aromas. In contrast, samples with higher citation frequency showed lower acceptance. The results indicate that sensory characteristics varied among the honey samples associated with different botanical origins, providing insights into the sensory identity of honeys from the Caatinga biome. These findings contribute to product valorization and support strategies for geographical indication and market differentiation.