What is herbal honey?
Honey is deposited in honeycomb by the honeybee, our planet’s premier herbalists and medicine-makers! And herbal honey infused with herbal flavours is a tasty and easy way to enjoy both the benefits of honey and the herbs you choose to use.
Many herbal traditions attest that honey boosts the effectiveness of the herbs and honey is a well-known antibacterial, immune supporter and cough-stopper.
Examples of herbs to use for herbal honey
Some common herbs used in honey include:
Making your own herbal honey with a no-heat method
- Level of difficulty: Easy
- Time to make: 10 minutes to prepare, 4 weeks infusion time
Ingredients and equipment
- Dried herbs of your choice
- Runny honey
- Glass jars and lids, sterilised
- Chopstick
- Wooden spoon
- Sieve
Method
- Crush the herbs a little bit to release the essential oils.
- Fill the jar(s) with runny honey until fully submerged, leaving some space at the top.
- Stir to combine.
- Close the jar and place it in a sunny spot for 1-4 weeks. The longer you leave it the more it will infuse.
- Turn the jar every day.
- Strain out the herbs using a sieve and transfer the honey to a clean jar.
- Label, date and store in a dark place.
- For a quicker method, you can heat the herbs and honey together in a Bain Marie for 30 minutes, ensuring the temperature does not exceed 45C.
How to use your honey
- Herbal honey is delicious in warm water, herbal tea and cooking.
- Save the discarded herbs for a sweet cup of tea.
Herbal honey safety tips
- You can make honey with fresh herbs but it is better to use the heated method by heating the herbs and honey together in a saucepan before filling your jars to ensure any water is evaporated.
- If the honey is too thick, you can warm it gently to soften before blending with the herbs.
Bibliography
- Chown V, Walker K. The Handmade Apothecary: Healing Herbal Remedies. New York: Sterling Ethos; 2018.
- Green J, Green A. The Herbal Medicine-Makers’ Handbook: A Home Manual. Berkeley: Crossing Press; 2002.
- Heron B. How To Make Articles. Earthsong Seeds. https://earthsongseeds.co.uk/blog/. Accessed April 4, 2023.
