Objective: To characterize moisture content

relative density and viscosity of refined honey

find correlations between parameters and select one of these three parameters to define different specifications of refined honey. Method: Samples were refined respectively by atmospheric heating and vacuum heating method

moisture content was determined by Abbe refractometer

relative density was measured by pycnometer

viscosity was determined by rotating rheometer

correlations between these three parameters were investigated by regression analysis. Result: Moisture content

relative density and viscosity in atmospheric(vacuum) refined honey samples were 15.05%-21.26%(13.72%-21.32%)

1.401 7-1.447 8(1.403 3-1.456 4)

1.89-51.28(1.93-86.01) Pa·s.These three parameters all closely correlated with each other with R2>0.98

correlations between any two parameters of samples by different preparations were consistent. Conclusion: As moisture content was reduced

relative density increased linearly

viscosity increased exponentially

and their strong correlations applied to all samples by both preparations. Moisture content could be directly selected to characterize specifications of refined honey.