HERB-INFUSED HONEY
This past month I was super busy because my fiancé and I did a thing and got married! We said our “I do’s” in my parents’ backyard — it was intimate, simple, and frankly, perfect. Now that I have a bit more time on my hands, I’ve been generating some fun DIYs to get back into the blogging swing of things. And with flu season approaching (I know, I hate to even bring it up), I wanted to provide some content that might offer assistance to you and your family during this time of the year.
That is where this lovely herb-infused honey recipe comes into play. Raw honey is rich in antimicrobial and antioxidants constituents which may support the immune system. If you do fall ill, consuming raw and unfiltered honey has been shown to offer soothing relief to coughs and sore throats and may shorten the duration of the illness.
I love honey — which should come as no surprise because I titled my blog after this golden ingredient. I consume honey daily in my lemon water, my apple cider vinegar elixir, on my oatmeal, and I even use it as a natural sweetener in my turmeric lattes. I felt an overwhelming desire to spread the honey love to my family and friends and encourage them to take care of their immunity, and thought the best way to do that would be to fill some cute containers with herb-infused honey and deliver it to them.
Although infused honey makes a lovely individualized gift — even wedding favors — feel free to adjust the ratio and make one big infusion in something like a Mason jar. I will discuss how you can make a large batch, as well.
Whether you prefer to consume this sweet substance drizzled over your morning toast, or include it in your weekly face mask, this DIY infusion will add a favorable element of taste, aroma, and a boost in nourishing properties to any honey of your choosing.
MAKING A HERB-INFUSED HONEY
Everything wonderful in life is worth waiting for, and this herb-infused honey is no exception. Although you can infuse honey quickly over the stove, I prefer the solar method, which takes time and patience. While the beautiful herbs infuse, you can collect your ideas for how you want to use your delicious creation. Having a glass container that seals is important for this recipe - glass Mason jars are a wonderful and easily accessible option.
Add 2 tablespoons of organic dried herbs into a sterilized airtight glass container. Then, add 1 cup of raw honey over the dried herbs. Be sure that the honey completely covers all the dried herbs. You may want to use a chopstick or clean spoon to push the herbs to the bottom of the jar and wait while the honey coats the herbs in their entirety. Place the lid on the jar, confirming it is sealed, and let it sit for at least 7 days. Be sure to turn the jar over at least once a day. You may need to use a chopstick or clean wooden spoon to push the herbs down into the honey.
Your herb-infused honey will be ready to use after one week, although I recommend infusing for 3 to 4 weeks. The longer the honey infuses, the more potent the herb flavor will be. Remember, it is worth the wait! Once the infusion is to your liking, you can either strain the herbs from the honey or leave them in. If you prefer to strain the honey, using a fine mesh strainer, sieve the honey into an additional sterilized glass container with an airtight seal. Press the dried herbs with a mixing spoon against the strainer to encourage the release of the honey that has been absorbed by the herb. Label your herb-infused honey with the contents and date of creation and store in a cool, dry place.
If you are interested in creating herb-infused honey in little glass bottles to give as gifts, I used a 2 ounce sterilized glass bottle with an airtight seal, added 2 teaspoons of organic dried herbs, and a little over 1/4 cup of honey.
UNDERSTANDING THE INGREDIENTS
LOCAL HONEY…THE BEE’S KNEES
When I buy honey, I try to purchase it from a local beekeeper or farm. Not only is it important to support small businesses, but you can often find raw and unfiltered honey, containing precious goodness straight from the hive compared to some store-bought alternatives that remove beneficial antioxidants and nutrients. If your local beekeeper offers organic honey, that is even better, but is often more difficult to obtain.
The National Honey Board offers a great tool on their website called the Honey Locator. You can find local honey by state or zip code. Check it out!
If you do not have a farm or community source that distributes honey from local honey bees, I highly recommend purchasing glass bottled raw and unfiltered honey from a grocery store. Raw means the honey is taken directly from the hive, and unfiltered refers to the honey being strained rather than filtered, which can negatively alter the quality.
HERB INFUSION POSSIBILITIES
There is a large selection of herbs one can infuse into honey. It is up to you and how you foresee your honey being utilized. If you would like to keep your options open and create an infusion that can be used for both consumption and skin care, I would suggest sticking with dried herbs like calendula, chamomile, hibiscus, lavender, or rose. Lemon balm, rosemary, sage, and thyme are great options, too. You certainly do not have to keep to just these herbs, but they are a great starting point. Also, don’t be afraid to mix it up a bit - if you want to infuse two or three different herbs together - go for it!
I suggest using dried herbs, rather than fresh herbs because fresh herbs may release water into the mix, which will increase the potential for botulinum spores to grow. Dried herbs will allow for an extended shelf life and can be stored in your pantry.
CHAMOMILE FLOWERS
Chamomile has such a comforting and reposeful aroma. Consuming chamomile tea prior to sleep may promote a restful night of slumber and alleviate insomnia. A chamomile-infused honey can actually be added to your chamomile tea to enhance its taste. In regard to skin care, chamomile flowers are a cicatrisant working on the cellular level to assist in the restoration of damaged skin while also stimulating new skin cell growth. Those with irritated skin may gravitate towards chamomile’s healing characteristics.
LAVENDER FLOWERS
If you are hoping to infuse your honey for food sweetening purposes, adding lavender-infused honey to your nighttime tea or evening elixir is lovely; it helps quiet the body and mind. On hot summer days, I also savor it in a honey-sweetened lemonade or spritzer. Lavender has many uses and medicinal purposes as a first-aid tool as well as a calming agent. On the skin, lavender offers analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and regenerative properties.
ROSE PETALS
Rose petals contain high levels of vitamin C, which may offer additional support to the immune system. Similar to lavender, rose-infused honey is delightful when added to an evening tea as a gentle sedative. Rose petals are also a known skin regenerator helping to improve the appearance of skin tissues. The antioxidants in rose petals may work to neutralize free radicals providing anti-aging benefits to the skin. The astringent and toning properties may also assist in reducing the appearance of pores while reducing inflammation.
DIY HERB-INFUSED HONEY
Ingredients
1 cup raw + unfiltered honey
2 tablespoons organic dried herbs
Materials
chopstick or wooden spoon
fine mesh strainer
airtight containers (2)
Instructions
Place dried herbs inside a sterilized airtight container.
Pour honey over dried herbs.
If needed, use a chopstick or spoon to push the herbs to the bottom of the jar and wait while the honey coats the herbs.
Place the lid on the jar, confirming it is sealed, and let it sit in the sun for at least 7 days, but ideally several weeks.
Turn the jar over at least once a day to make sure herbs are coated with honey.
You may need to use a chopstick or wooden spoon handle to push the herbs down into the honey.
Once the infusion is to your liking, either strain the herbs from the honey, or leave them.
If straining is preferred, using a fine mesh strainer, strain the honey into an additional sterilized glass container with an airtight seal.
Label your herb-infused honey, and store in a cool, dry place.
How to Use
Your herb-infused honey can be used in so many ways! Add it to any recipe that calls for honey or use it as a natural sweetener in your oatmeal or tea. Honey works wonders on the skin, so have fun including it to your DIY skin care repertoire, as well.
