Abstract:

Honey has a long history of use in many cultures as food and medicine. It is a food of animal origin closely linked to the territory, due to honeybees need the flora to obtain the honey. Melissopalynology plays a significant role in the identification of the distinctive food print of honey throughout its pollen content, being essential for guaranteeing origin. Algeria is the largest country in North Africa and possesses a diversified territory with different ecosystems that host wide plant biodiversity. Apiculture relies heavily on the pollination of plant species and the conservation of biodiversity, but also is a good source of economic income in rural areas. In Algeria, knowledge about plant resources for honey bees and the properties of the honey is raising interest. In this context, this chapter aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the different ecosystems of Algeria, the main pollen types found in the pollen spectra of honey and the principal honey types described.