Since becoming a beekeeper, learning how to make infused honey has become one of my favorite pastimes! I love infusing honey with the various herbs and spices that I grow on the farm, the combinations are endless.
Honey has been used for centuries as a natural sweetener and folk medicine. Today, honey is enjoying a resurgence in popularity thanks to its unique flavor and health benefits.
One of the latest trends in honey is infusing it with herbs!
This process can be done simply by adding a few sprigs of fresh herbs to a jar of honey. The honey will absorb the flavor of the herbs, creating a unique product with potent medicinal properties.
There are endless possibilities for herb-infused honey, but some of the most popular combinations include lavender and honey, chamomile and honey, and ginger and honey.
The best honey to use is raw local honey. Look at farmer’s markets, Facebook marketplace, as well as roadside stands for raw local honey.
Also, using dried herbs will keep your honey shelf-stable, as opposed to using fresh herbs that introduce moisture to the honey. I also recommend that you buy organic herbs and spices!
(Here is where I like to shop for my herbs)
What Kinds of Herbs and Spices Work Best for Infusing Honey?
What’s so fabulous about infused honey (using raw, local honey) is that you can use practically any herb or spice you like!
You can use herbs that you just love the taste of, or use herbs that have specific therapeutic benefits.
Here are just a few ideas:
Lavender
Dandelion
Rosemary
Hot Pepper
Vanilla bean
Chamomile
Ginger
Star anise
Cinnamon sticks
Cloves
Cardamom
How to Infuse Honey
There are two ways to infuse honey: The raw method and the heated method.
I prefer the raw method, primarily because using the heated method destroys many of the benefits of the raw honey.
However, the heated method is what you would need to use if using fresh herbs or more woody-type herbs or barks.
Raw Method
Essentially, you add three parts honey to one part herb.
This will make strong-tasting honey.
You could make a more mild version with four parts honey and one part herb.
Your herbs need to be very dry, otherwise, mold could grow in the mixture.
You can use dry herbs that you foraged and dried, or purchased.
For this infusion, I foraged for common blue violets to infuse from my backyard. Always forage in an area that you’re sure hasn’t been sprayed with pesticides or herbicides!
More about foraging here.
I like to use the common blue violet for colds, coughs and sore throats. (Do NOT use white violets!) I add this recipe to my tea when I’m feeling a little under the weather.
You can dry fresh-picked herbs outside on a screen or in a dehydrator.
Be sure to pick plenty because these 2 trays of violets dried down to this…..
Combine your honey and herbs into a sterilized mason jar, and apply lid and date.
Roll jar back and forth to combine ingredients.
I like to put some of the honey in the jar first, so that the herb isn’t “trapped” at the bottom.
Pour in the rest of the honey…
Set in a sunny window for about three weeks or so, turning the jar once a day.
After that time, remove the jar from the window.
Now, it’s time to strain the herbs from the honey.
With a new clean jar in hand, using a strainer and funnel, strain the herbs out of the honey by pouring through the strainer.
Be patient here, honey takes its sweet time.
And there you are! Beautiful infused honey that you made yourself!
Heated Method
Again, this method is just for when using fresh herbs or barks. Heating raw honey can destroy many of it’s benefits.
Fresh herbs bring moisture into the honey, which will spoil much more quickly than when dried herbs are used.
Gently warm honey by putting the jar of honey in a saucepan 1/2 full with water. Bring the water to a boil, then turn the water off and put the lid on your honey jar.
Pour a bit of warm honey into your infusing jar, then add your dried herbs and cover completely with warm honey.
Strain and store in a sterilized jar in a cool, dark place. It should keep for a couple of months, but keep an eye on it. (If you see any discoloration or mold, throw it out.)
Be careful, this can be addicting!
Ways to Use Infused Honey:
- Drizzle on fresh bread!
- Put in hot tea (my personal favorite!)
- Treat a specific ailment or allergy.
- Drizzle over ice cream or yogurt!
- Added to granola!
- Given as gifts – people will love you forever!
- Eaten by the spoonful!!!!
More Infused Honey Recipes:
The easiest way to get started with infused honey is to take a look at what you have on hand in your herb stash.
I happened to have some lavender and lemon balm from last year’s harvest! This would make a wonderful addition to my evening tea!
Lavender is well-known for its relaxing properties, as is Lemon Balm! It’s another wonderful addition to tea when it’s been “one of those days”!
I mixed equal parts of Lemon Balm and Lavender with the honey and set it in the window next to the violet honey!
Again, the combinations are endless, but here are a few more ideas! Let your herbs infuse for at least one week and up to 3 or 4 weeks, depending on how strong you want it to be.
Cinnamon Honey – 15 cinnamon sticks combined with 1 quart of honey.
Thyme Infused Honey – Thyme can be helpful for coughs and even bronchitis. Fill jar halfway with dry thyme and cover with honey.
Continue to explore new combinations to infuse honey and let it make your life happier and healthier!
Enjoy!
This Post Has 2 Comments
Looks delicious! Sharing!
Thanks, Lisa!