Abstract:
The superiority of Trigona sp bees is its high propolis production (3 kg / colony per year) compared to Apis bees which produce only 20-30 g of propolis per colony per year.This study aimed to determine the quality of stingless bees (Trigona itama) honey based on 1 month, 3 months and 5 months of harvesting. The method used is to observe when harvesting at the location where sampling of honey bee box has been prepared. The results showed that the product of stingless bees (Trigona itama) honey of KUBA farmers located in Layuh Village, Batu Benawa Sub district, Hulu Sungai Tengah Regency has fulfilled the Indonesian National Standard (Standar Nasional Indonesia – SNI 01-3545-2013) through laboratory test with 3 test parameters namely, diastase enzyme, reducing sugar and acidity. The results of laboratory analysis of stingless bees (Trigona itama) honey with 1 month, 3 months and 5 months of harvesting showed that the quality of honey was affected by the harvesting age, which can be seen from the diastase enzyme content, reducing sugar and the acidity of the honey which vary in every harvesting ages. The highest diastase enzyme activity (6.93 DN) was found at 5 months harvesting, the highest reducing sugar content (112.75% b/b) at 5 months harvesting, and the highest acid content (41.3) at 5 months harvesting
