How to make herbal infused honey

Herbs and honey combine well together. You can make herb infused honey from any herbs left over from cooking or picked from your garden or foraging exploits. The herbs in the table below combine well with honey, taste good and can improve a range of health conditions. They also make lovely gifts.

How to make an infused honey

Ingredients / materials

• Honey (a mild flavour works best)

• Herb of choice (washed and air dried)

• Clean, sterilised dry jars (in oven, steriliser or dishwasher) with tight fitting lids

• Strainer

• A stirrer

• Clean cloth for wiping jar rims

• Labels

Method

• Place herb in the bottom of a sterilised jar. Usually, you need your herb to take up about a ¼ of the jar.

• Fill with honey making sure the herb is fully submerged. Leaving a couple of centimetres at the top. Push the herb down into honey with a stirrer if needed.

• Wipe the jar rim with a clean cloth.

• Place the lid tightly on and turn the jar over a few times.

• Allow the herb infuse for at least 5 days in a dry place. Rotate the jar daily. You can leave for 3-4 weeks if you want strong flavoured honey. Check daily: if the herb isn’t covered with honey, add some more.

• Strain honey into a clean sterilised jar, seal tightly and label with the name of herb, date bottled and used by date (12 months after bottling).

• Strained herbs can be put into tea for flavouring.

• Infused honey is shelf stable in a cool, dark place and should be used with one year.

Herbs that make lovely infusions

Herb	Parts used	Main actions	Conditions	Safety
Cayenne Capsicum annuum	Fruit	Circulatory stimulant, diaphoretic, spasmolytic, counterirritant, metabolic stimulant	Chilblains, circulation issues, Raynaud’s disease, fever, laryngitis, pharyngitis, arthritis, angina	Caution if peptic ulcers, gastro – oesophageal reflux. Topically, don’t use on broken skin
Chamomile Matricaria recutita	Flowers	Carminative, spasmolytic, mild sedative, anti-inflammatory, vulnerary, diaphoretic	Insomnia, anxiety, flatulence, diarrhoea, gastrointestinal colic, irritable bowel, gastritis, colic, teething, peptic ulcers, mouth ulcers, morning / travel sickness, topically for wounds and dermatitis	Avoid if allergic
Cinnamon Cinnamomum cassia	Bark	Antidiabetic, carminative, spasmolytic, digestive, astringent	Diabetes, insulin resistance, nausea, anorexic, diarrhoea, flatulence, colic, heartburn, colds	Seek medical advice if diabetic, pregnant, gastro – oesophageal reflux
Cloves Syzygium aromaticum	Flower bud	Carminative, digestive, spasmolytic, analgesic, antimicrobial	Flatulence, bloating, nausea, stomach pain, toothache, bad breath, laryngitis, pharyngitis, Intestinal worms	Seek medical advice if gastro – oesophageal reflux,
Elderflower Sambucus nigra	Flowers	Anticatarrhal, diaphoretic	Colds, flu, bronchitis, sinusitis, hay fever, laryngitis. pharyngitis
Fennel Foeniculum vulagre	Seeds	Antispasmodic	Indigestion, wind, bloating , stomach pain, colic
Garlic Allium sativum	Clove	Hypotensive, Hypocholesterolaemic, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic	High blood pressure, high cholesterol, colds, flu, bronchitis, asthma, sinusitis, hay fever, intestinal worms, gastro infections,	Avoid if allergic Seek medical advice if taking anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs
Ginger Zingiber officinale	Rhizome	Anti inflammatory, circulatory stimulant, digestive, diaphoretic, antiplatelet, antiemetic	Nausea, morning / travel sickness, bloating, flatulence, circulatory stimulant, Raynaud’s syndrome, arthritis, endometriosis, period pain, colds, flu, bronchitis, asthma, sinusitis	Seek medical advice if pregnant, have peptic ulcers, gallstones, taking warfarin
Lavender Lavandula officinalis / angustifolia		Carminative, antidepressant, spasmolytic	Anxiety, mild depression, insomnia, flatulence, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches	Avoid if allergic
Lemon balm Melissa officinalis	Leaves	Carminative, spasmolytic, mild sedative, diaphoretic, antiviral (topically)	Insomnia, anxiety, depression, irritable bowel, stomach ache, flatulence, cold sores (topically), colds, flu, fever
Marigold Calendula officinalis	Flowers	Antiinflammatory, vulnerary, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antimicrobial	Wound healing
Nettle Urtica dioica	Leaf	Antiallergy, antirheumatic, depurative	Hay fever, urticaria, dermatitis, arthritis, muscular aches and pains	Avoid if allergic
Oregano Origanum vulgare	Leaves/ flowers	Antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant	Colds, flu, bronchitis, asthma, sinusitis, gastrointestinal infections	Avoid if allergic
Peppermint Mentha x piperita	Leaves	Antiemetic, Carminative, spasmolytic, antimicrobial, diaphoretic, analgesic, anticough	Flatulence, irritable bowel, colic, stomach ache, heartburn, morning / travel sickness, colds, flu, bronchitis, asthma, sinusitis, hay fever, headaches	Do not use if you have gatro-oesophageal reflux
Rose Rosa spp.	Petals / hips	Hips: Antiinflammatory, astringent Petals: Nervine	Hips:Vitamin C deficiency, diarrhoea, gastritis, osteoarthritis Petals: Anxiety, mild depression, tension
Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis	Leaves / flowers	Circulatory stimulant, carminative, spasmolytic, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective	Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ADHD, mental focus, concentration, memory, headaches, liver detoxification Topically for wound healing, neuralgia, myalgia, sciatica, hair loss, dandruff	Take at a different time to any mineral supplements
Sage Salvia officinalis	Leaves	Spasmolytic, astringent, antimicrobial	Menopausal symptoms (especially hot flushes), concentration and memory, flatulence, heartburn, stops lactation, laryngitis, pharyngitis, gingivitis, tonsilitis, glossitis, stomatitis	Pregnancy and lactation Don’t have long term
Turmeric Cucurma longa	Rhizome	Antiinflammatory, antiplatelet, antioxidant, hypolipidemic, choleretic	Peptic ulcer, heartburn, liver detoxification, arthritis, asthma, cystic fibrosis, cardiovascular diseases, hypercholesterolaemia, Topically for skin conditions	Seek medical advice if taking antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs
Thyme Thymus vulgaris	Leaves/flowers	Expectorant, spasmolytic, antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial	Bronchitis, asthma, colds, flu, whooping cough, laryngitis, pharyngitis, gingivitis, tonsilitis, glossitis, stomatitis, gastritis, diarrhoea, bad breath	Avoid if allergic

Over to you

What infusion will you make?

Always seek medical advice before taking a new herb, if you are pregnant / lactating and to check for any interactions with other medications you are taking.