Handcrafted ❤️ Herbal Honey
We love honey in our household, especially when it’s infused with beautiful aromatic herbs! I’m sharing with you today our favorite combination of heart-centric herbs and honey. We call it “❤️ Herbal Honey.”
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In this Post:
About ❤️ Herbal Honey
It starts with that undeniable symbol of love: the Rose. These delicate, yet aromatic petals impart a gentle floral flavor that is accented by the herbaceous floral taste of Lavender blossoms.
The calming nature of Lavender pairs with Lemon Balm which is known to provide support during times of stress.
The citrusy notes of Lemon Balm are enhanced by the fresh uplifting flavor of Orange Peel.
These four herbs support each other in flavor and energetics, coming together with Raw Local Honey to create a delightfully pleasant herbal honey. (I’ve included weights if you’d like to use a kitchen scale for consistency.)
❤️ Herbal Honey Recipe
- 4 Tablespoons (5g) dried Rose petals (Rosa spp)
- 5 Tablespoons (10g) dried Lavender flowers (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 4 Tablespoons (10g) dried Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
- 2 Tablespoons (10g) dried Sweet Orange peel (Citrus x sinensis) or the zest of a fresh organic Orange
- Raw Local Honey, added in 2 steps (about 730-740g total)
🌺See my Recommended Suppliers below
Tools Needed
- Medium saucepan
- 12 ounce jar and lid (I like to repurpose a well-scrubbed spaghetti sauce jar!)
- Rubberized tongs
- Clean dish towel
- Funnel, fairly large
- Cheesecloth, fine weave, unbleached cotton
- Baking spatula, recommended
- Honey storage jar(s)
Making ❤️ Herbal Honey
Prep Your Tools
We always want all of our tools be be as clean as possible, so first we’ll sanitize our 12 ounce jar.
In a medium sauce pan cover the jar and lid with water, bring to a simmer, and simmer for 10 minutes. Carefully remove lid and jar from the hot water with rubberized tongs and upend on a cloth towel to drain and air dry. Reserve the water for use later.
Combine Herbs and Honey
When the jar and lid are completely dry, add herbs to the jar and then add raw honey to just below the shoulder of the jar. Lightly screw on the lid.
Return the sauce pan to the burner and reheat water to just steaming. Take off the heat.
Place herbal honey jar into the steaming water. The honey will thin in the warmth.
At this point the honey will settle into the herbs leaving more space at the top. You can add more honey to return the level to the jar’s shoulder.
Once the honey has reached room temperature, remove the jar from the water, wipe dry, tighten the lid completely, and place on the kitchen counter where it’s warm and you’ll see it. You may want to place it in a small bowl to catch any leakage.
Once or twice a day, turn the jar over, allowing the honey to percolate through the herbs.
💚We don’t want to overheat the honey. The point of using RAW honey is that it contains all sorts of good stuff—antioxidants, bee pollen, bee propolis, enzymes, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Heat can damage these important nutrients.
The 14-Day Taste Test
After 14 days, taste the herbal honey. Do you like the flavor? If not, continue to infuse for another couple of days and taste again. Repeat until the flavor is to your liking.
I have frequently allowed my herbs to infuse for a full moon cycle; if I don’t run out of the previous batch, that is!
Once you like the flavor, you’re ready to filter and bottle!
“Nothing is better for the human being than to add the right amount of honey to his food.”
~Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925)
Filtering Your ❤️ Herbal Honey
Cleanliness is Important
Again, we want to be as as clean as possible, so the first step is to sanitize a glass storage container and large funnel (as we did the infusing jar), and allow to air dry completely.
In a small sauce pan bring a few inches of water to steaming, then remove from the heat.
Insure the lid of the herbal honey infusing jar is tightly in place, then place upside down into the hot water to gently warm and thin the honey.
Get Ready to Filter
While the honey is warming, place the funnel into the opening of your honey storage jar.
Then cut a large piece of fine weave cheese cloth and place in the funnel. The cheesecloth should be large enough to be double layered and drape well over all sides of the funnel.
Remove infusion jar from the warm water, dry with a clean cloth, then tip jar back until the honey is beyond the rim of the jar. We want to try to keep the honey and herbs somewhat separated, so do this slowly.
Filter Time!
Now carefully remove the lid and pour slowly into the lined funnel. Try to pour most of the honey through the filter first. You can use a narrow baking spatula to help hold back the herbs.
As it drains, you may need to pick up the funnel to release the vacuum that forms. You can also wedge a glass straw under the cheesecloth and into the base of the funnel to reduce vacuum formation.
Once the honey has drained into the honey jar, go ahead and tip all of the herb into the funnel. Allow to drain until the honey slows to a drip.
Now Give it a Good Squeeze!
Put on a pair of disposable food-prep gloves (again, cleanliness, right?).
Pull the edges of the cheesecloth together and give a little twist to seal it around the herbs.
Gently lift the cheesecloth herb package from the funnel, keeping the top sealed with one hand.
With the other hand squeeze tightly with a downward motion to encourage any remaining honey to filter through the bottom of the cheesecloth and into the funnel.
Honey may collect on the bottom of the herb bundle. Just scrape it into the funnel with a finger. Waste not!
You’ll find that the herbal honey that’s squeezed through the cheesecloth will be somewhat foamy. This is normal and doesn’t impact the quality at all. It will settle as the air moves out of it.
I usually have two storage jars on hand when I’m filtering my herbal honey. One holds the honey that drains naturally, the other holds the honey I squeeze out.
💚PRO TIP: Be aware that despite a double layer of cheesecloth you will likely still have herb bits in the filtered herbal honey. That’s okay, though! The herbs are edible and chances are they will just be flecks anyway!
Ways to Enjoy ❤️ Herbal Honey to
- Sweeten black & herbal tea
- Sweeten iced tea
- Spread on toast, corn muffins, and biscuits
- Drizzle over granola or oatmeal
- Drizzle over smoothie bowls
- Swirl over vanilla ice cream
- Replace “regular” honey in anything!
What’s your favorite way to enjoy ❤️ Herbal Honey? Do you have other favorite herbs to include? Please let us know in the comments below!
Mom’s Shopping List
All of the herbs used in ❤️ Herbal Honey can be found on Mom’s Herbal Favorites at Amazon or from my favorite Organic Herb Suppliers below. For honey crafting tools check out Mom’s Kitchen Favorites.
For a source of local honey, use the National Honey Board’s search tool.
These are the specific suppliers I use for the supportive herbs in this herbal honey:
- Lavender Buds (Lavandula spp):
- FGOrganics, L. angustifolia, organic (on Amazon)
- Anthony’s Goods, Lavandula spp, organic (on Amazon).
- Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis):
- Elanen naturals, organic (on Amazon)
- Mountain Rose Herbs, organic
- homegrown from seed from Seed Needs (on Amazon) or Botanical Interests.
- Orange Peel (Citrus x sinensis):
- Starwest Botanicals, organic (on Amazon)
- Mountain Rose Herbs, organic
- Make your own, like this!
- Rose Petals (Rosa spp):
- TooGood Botanics, organic (on Amazon)
- Starwest Botanicals, organic (on Amazon).
Cultivate your Green Thumb! Grow your own organic herbs, vegetables, and fruits from seed with the non-GMO, open pollinated seeds from my trusted suppliers: Seed Needs (on Amazon), Survival Garden Seeds (on Amazon), and Botanical Interests.
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is for educational purposes only.
All recipes provided are for personal use and are not designed for re-sale or large-scale manufacturing.
Please consult your doctor, naturopath, herbal practitioner, or other qualified health professional for medical advice and before starting any herbal regimen, particularly if you are pregnant or nursing, have any existing medical conditions, or are taking any medications.
Chris P | Author, Certified Aromatherapist, Natural Skin Care Formulator
Chris (“Mom”) enjoys formulating bespoke aromatherapy, skin care, and herbal products to support her family, pets, friends, and clients. She also loves experimenting with recipes in the kitchen. An avid reader, writer, and lifetime learner, Chris enthusiastically explores research rabbit holes and then writes about her discoveries.💚 (Learn more >>)
