Herbal Honey's

Apis mellifica or Bees, are perhaps the Earth’s premier herbalist and medicine makers. These little herbalist are responsible for pollinating the plants that make up much of our food and medicine systems. They also gather and create potent medicines such as royal jelly, propolis, pollen, and beeswax. One of their byproducts, honey, is both antiseptic and antibacterial. Honey also has emollient, demulcent, nutritive, and mild laxative properties. These properties are extremely beneficial for relieving dryness and pain, especially for coughs and sore throats.

One of the earliest records of beekeeping dates back nearly 15,000 years ago, to a cave wall painting in Spain. To the Celtic people of Ireland, beekeeping was so important, and considered so necessary for the fertility of the land, that their judicial systems were built on the “Bech Breatha,” also known as the Brehon Law. The rights of bees were actually built into the system of judgement they had for determining what was “right or wrong” in their daily interactions with one another. For example, if a person who had been "stung," had not retaliated by killing the bee, he or she would be entitled to a meal of honey from the beekeeper. However, if the person who was stung responded by killing the honey bee, then two beehives were paid in compensation to the Beekeeper. The Brehon Laws recognized that people, plants, insects and animals all had rights and showed as much concern for the natural environment as the human created world. 

As we begin to spend time in nature, by witnessing how every little organism is actually interconnected to the greater heartbeat of creation, we then realize that as a gardener or herbalist, we too are part of Brehon Law. If we examine many other Indigenous Laws, we will see that caring for the rights of the Earth and all of its inhabitants is a constant theme.

Today, many herbalist suggest that the use of herbal honeys prompts better assimilation of the nutritive components within the body’s tissues.

How to make a Herbal Infused Honey

Folk Method

This is the preferred method to craft herbal honey. You will find that some herbalists apply heat to speed up the infusion process. Heat isn’t necessary and there is some evidence that it may destroy some of the medicinal benefits of the honey.

What you will need

Ingredients

Plant material, fresh (preferred) or dried

Local Raw Honey is best

Materials

Mason jar

Fine metal strainer

Labels

Small funnel

Large bowl

Liquid measuring cup

Directions

1. Chop the fresh plant material as small as possible. The more an herb is chopped, the more surface area will be covered during the maceration (or extraction) process. (Please note that chopping is key for herbal honeys, as you will not be able to use a blender.) 

2a. Fill your Mason jar about ¾ full with freshly chopped herbs.

2b. If you choose to work with dried herbs, fill the jar ½ full.

3. Completely cover the plant material with the honey, leaving about ½ inch of space at the top.

4. Put the cap firmly on your jar and label it.

I suggest writing down the following on your label:

-What type of honey you used (tupelo, wildflower, ect)

-Whether you used fresh or dried herb.

-The common name and the Latin name of the plant used

-The date you made the honey.

5. Let the mixture macerate, stir the jar every few days and store it in a cool dark cabinet. It is essential to make sure the herbs are always covered by the honey. This will prevent any unwanted mold from forming. You can add more honey if needed. This is a great time to put good energy into your herbal creation and visualize all the ways it’s going to help you once it’s finally ready. Be sure to thank the honey bees too!

6. After 4-6 weeks have passed, you can then press out your honey. To start the pressing process, have a clean bowl ready with a metal strainer placed on top. Empty the herbal infused honey into the metal strainer and allow it to slowly strain into the clean bowl or vessel. If necessary, you can strain again to be sure all of the plant material is out of the infused honey. This process isn’t necessary, as you may find a bite of honeyed herbs taste nice later on.

7. Once you have strained the herbal infused honey to your liking, bottle and label. 

Generally, herbal infused honeys can stay good forever. Honey is a natural preservative!