*3.1. Moisture Content*

All samples of sunflower honey that were investigated had moisture contents that were less than 20%, which is the maximum permitted amount for honey as specified by national legislation [36] (Table 1). The physical, microbiological, sensory, and economic value of honey are all influenced by the presence of water. Moreover, water content has a significant impact on the process of crystallization; thus, it is crucial to monitor and manage its amount in honey. The maturation of honey and harvest time is an important factor that could affect the percentage of water in honey [7]. The amount of water in sunflower honey after sampling corresponded with the regulations and indicated a timely harvest and good production practices. Similar values for moisture content in sunflower honey from Romania, Serbia, Greece, and Argentina were reported by other authors [37–40].

During storage, decrease in the mean content of water was found (Figure 1). All the sunflower honey samples that were examined had water content less than twenty percent. The mean water content was 16.29 ± 1.24% (Table 3). This is a slightly lower water content compared to the test results immediately after sampling. There were statistically significant variations in the mean values of water in honey between the time of sampling and 18 months afterward (*p* = 0.05). In general, all tested samples corresponded with the regulations even after storage, and water content remained relatively stable at 17.01% before storage and 16.29% after storage. These findings are in agreement with the findings presented by Soares et al. [11]. Seraglio et al. [41], however, did not find significant differences between moisture content before and after honey storage. Contrary to that, Da Silva et al. [4] established an increase in moisture content before and after honey storage, and the differences were statistically significant. Different results may be the consequence

of the influence of numerous factors, like the environment, the time of harvest, and the level of honey maturation attained in the hive.

**Figure 1.** Effect of storage time on moisture content in sunflower honey.
