Unveiling the botanical signatures of reunionese honeys through chemical profiling

This study investigates the classification of Reunionese honeys based on their chemical composition, leveraging the island’s unique diversity of landscapes, including coastal zones, tropical forests, volcanic mountains, and varied microclimates ranging from sea level to 3,070 meters. A total of 416 honeys from 100 beekeepers were collected, representing both common varieties (multifloral, pink pepper, litchi) and rare types derived from endemic species ( Weinmannia tinctoria , Coffea arabica var. bourbon , Labourdonnaisia calophylloides ) and medicinal plants ( Hypericum lanceolatum , Hubertia ambavilla , Dombeya acutangula ) [ 1 ]. Carbohydrate profiling was performed for the first time on Reunionese honey using High-Performance Anion-Exchange Chromatography with Pulsed Amperometric Detection which identified 17 carbohydrates. [ 2 ] Additionally, untargeted LC-MS/MS analysis was conducted on dichloromethane extracts of 82 honey samples representative of the collection. Untargeted analysis revealed significant clustering of honey samples according to botanical origin, demonstrating clear discrimination. [ 3 ] Chemical diversity assessment using molecular networking and Sirius further enabled the annotation of chemical classes and key compound structures. [ 4 ] [ 5 ] This analytical approach substantiates empirical observations — such as the crystallization capacity — and provides a robust framework for differentiating Reunionese honeys according to their botanical origins. Publication History Article published online: 05 March 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany