How To Make An Herbal Infused Honey

Making an herbal honey is one of the easiest things you can do. It’s also a great first kitchen witchery project!

In the simplest of terms an herbal honey is just a raw honey that has been infused with herbs and then strained prior to use.

Of course there is nothing simple about the depth of flavor that these honeys contain nor their medicinal value to your home apothecary.

I recommend dried herbs for honey because then you don’t have to worry about the water content causing fermentation. Let’s walk through the steps and then get some ideas about which herbs can be used for honey.

1. Find a clean, glass jar with a tight fitting lid.
2. Fill your jar 1/4 – 1/3 of the way full with your chosen dried herb or dried herb blend. If using fresh herbs, fill the jar 1/2 – 2/3 of the way full.
   • This is where you have to trust your heart. You can put the herbs in fairly whole, give them a rough chop, or reduce them to ribbons. Let the plant speak to you. If you’re using dried herbs, this decision is probably already made for you.
3. Cover the herbs with honey and continue to fill the jar until you are only left with a small air gap at the top. Basically as close to full as you can get without overflowing.
   • You don’t need to stir the honey and herbs but a wooden spoon handle might be helpful in releasing any air bubbles.
4. Cover and label the jar. Preferably you want to store the jar in a cool, dark, dry place but you can also leave it on your kitchen counter if you think you’ll forget the next step without it being in plain sight.
5. Tip and turn the jar a couple of times a day to keep the herbs covered and distributed in the honey.
6. After five days, taste the honey. If it is your desired strength, strain the herbs through a fine mesh strainer and enjoy! If you would like it a little stronger, let it do its thing for up to six weeks. Either way, the strained honey will keep indefinitely.

Two Precautions For Infusing Honey With Fresh Herbs

• It is important to remember that anytime you choose to make an herbal honey with fresh herbs, you will need to keep the herbs fully covered with honey. If the herbs have access to air they may spoil your honey because the water inside the herbs can cause the honey to rot. When the herbs stay covered with honey, the honey helps to preserve the herbs.
• When using fresh herbs, do not fill the jar more than 1/2 full. Fresh herbs have water in their content. If too much water leaches into the honey it can ferment. This can lead to exploding jars and a little alcoholic drink called mead.

Herbs For Making Herbal Honey

Honey is a great way to cover some unsavory herbal flavors for medicinal purposes but it is also just a lot of fun for strictly flavor purposes. Some great herbs to infuse in honey are:

Don’t let yourself be limited by this list. Experiment! Find herbs that match the flavor or medicinal property profile that you’re looking for and give it a go. Or try herbal combinations. I would suggest sticking to your safer herbal allies here. Pretty much if it’s edible, you’re safe. Now go make some honey!

To purchase dried herbs, visit the APOTHECARY.

Disclaimer: Please note that I am a not medical professional and everything written here is a product of my own research. Don’t take any advice given here over that of a trained doctor. If you ingest any herbs, always make sure that you’re 100% sure that they’re safe. If you’re pregnant or giving to a child, always consult a doctor before ingesting herbs and plant you aren’t familiar with. Magickal instruction and spells are for personal entertainment purposes only. The desired result/outcome cannot be guaranteed as a result of using any magickal item, and should not be used as a replacement for medical/professional assistance.