How to Make Infused Honey

When I became a beekeeper more than 9 years ago, I was thrilled to be able to enjoy our fresh honey in as many ways as possible!  Learning how to make infused honey was something I couldn’t wait to try!

An infusion is simply a drink or extract prepared by soaking the dried leaves or flowers of a plant or herb in a liquid.  Just like making tea, except you’re using honey.

Honey has such a mild flavor, which makes it the perfect medium to infuse your favorite herbs and spices with!

Do your best to find and use local honey for your infused 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 Make Infused Honey

There are two ways to infuse honey:  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 a 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.

4 Ways to Dehydrate Herbs

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, 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 jar from 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 strainer. 

Be patient here, honey takes it’s 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 will 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.

As you can tell, I’m not a fan of the heated method.  In my mind, it defeats the purpose.

However, there are those who will want to use this method.

Combine all of your ingredients (herbs and honey) in a sauce pan and heat with medium heat.

Once the honey begins to bubble, remove from heat and let cool.

Repeat this process 3-4 times until the desired taste is achieved.  

Strain and store in 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 fav!)
• 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 known for it’s 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’s a few more ideas!

Cold and Flu Recipe

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 half-way with dry thyme and cover with honey.

Rose Infused Honey

5 Healing Honey Infusions

Continue to explore new combinations to infuse honey and let it make your life happier and healthier!

Enjoy!