**1. Introduction**

Honey is a natural product produced by bees from the nectar of flowers which can be modified by their digestive enzymes (floral honey) or from living plant fluids and/or excretions of plant‐sucking insects (honeydew honey) [1].

Floral honey can be monofloral or polyfloral, depending on whether their production is derived from a single species or various species of plants, respectively. Polyfloral honey is universal, but monofloral honey can be produced by establishing hives where flowers of a particular plant species are dominant. Therefore, based on their peculiarity, unique flavors, and sometimes unique medicinal properties, monofloral honey has a higher commercial value. Manuka honey is an example of such type, which derives from two species of Leptospermum, and retail prices start at about \$100/kg [2] due to its demonstrated health benefits [3]. In addition from the plant source, the commercial value and characteristics of the honey can also be based on insect source, as honey from stingless bees (e.g. Melipona beecheii) or honey from Apis mellifera, etc. exhibits different characteristics. Additionally, the absence of residues of contaminants may also play an important role in the international market, as in the case of Brazilian honey, which receives Organic Certification.

In this scenario, a variety of honey samples with different characteristics, biological effects, and commercial values are found worldwide. Because of the value of different types of honey could vary more than 100‐fold, it is target for fraud. Reports have suggested the dilution of valued kinds of honey, such as from stingless bees, with low‐value honey.

Biological honey activities are derived from compounds that are present in this natural food. In general, honey is composed of approximately 200 substances, particularly with those belonging to the classes of sugars, amino acids, proteins, organic acids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, vitamins, minerals, and volatile compounds. The chemical composition of honey is intrinsically related to factors such as the geographic region of origin, present flowers in this region, species of bee that produced it, climatic conditions, processing conditions, handling and storage, and the storage time [4]. Thus, honey chemical composition from different botanical areas can vary, also leading to differences to their biological properties.

Several efforts have been made worldwide to develop protocols aiming the identification and evaluation honey quality. The literature presents many methodologies that are used to determine honey identification and quality control, and they are complementary. Among them, it could be named ascertain the entomological sources of honey by pollen identification with checking of the morphological pollen of flowers present in each honey sample and quantification of the same [5] and physical and chemical tests, i.e. determination of 5‐ hydroxymethylfurfural (5‐HMF), which aims to assess whether it has been stored properly and determine whether it is fresh, the determination of free acidity and pH, which can be used for checking the tampering and deterioration, respectively.

Additional or alternative methods to establish the plant source of an unknown honey have also been proposed through the genetic analysis of targeted gene regions isolated from honey. This technical approach was termed metabarcoding and it is gaining power because of increased access to high‐throughput sequencing platforms [6].

According to the Technical Regulations for Honey identity and Quality of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA) in Brazil [7], honey samples must be characterized by physical and chemical tests, such as moisture determination, minerals (ash), acidity, reducing sugars, apparent sucrose, insoluble solids in water, diastase activity, and hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF). These tests will be discussed deeply in the next sections, especially demonstrating the fundaments and importance of each one to guarantee honey quality in Brazil. Regarding the tests required worldwide, a comparison among the different regulations is also depicted. Additional assessments, which are not comprised in Brazilian Regulations, are also reported, as the determination of metals and pollen identification. Finally, honey market worldwide is exposed.
