How to Make Lavender Infused Honey
If you’re looking for an easy way to add a delicate floral flavor to your favorite drinks and recipes, this lavender infused honey recipe is a perfect place to start. Made with just raw honey and dried lavender buds, this simple infusion creates a naturally sweet treat that’s wonderful in tea, coffee, lemonade, and even drizzled over desserts.
Whether you’re using local honey, raw wildflower honey, or your favorite clover honey, this recipe is a great way to enjoy the unique flavor profile and potential health benefits of both ingredients.
Why You’ll Love This Lavender Honey Recipe
This lavender honey recipe couldn’t be easier. There are no special tools or complicated techniques… just a little patience while the honey slowly infuses.
Once it’s ready, you’ll have a versatile ingredient that’s perfect for:
- Stirring into a cup of tea
- Sweetening coffee or hot chocolate
- Making homemade lavender lemonade
- Drizzling over ice cream
- Serving with warm biscuits
- Pairing with goat cheese
- Topping fresh fruit
- Mixing into smoothie bowls
- Adding a floral twist to salad dressings
- Using in a variety of honey recipes
The final product has a lightly floral aroma without being overpowering.
Ingredients
- 6 ounces raw honey
- 2 tablespoons dried lavender buds (use culinary lavender or organic lavender flowers)
Equipment
- Small glass jar or glass container
- Airtight lid
- Fine mesh strainer
How to Make Lavender Infused Honey
- Add the dried lavender to a clean glass jar.
- Pour 6 ounces of raw honey over the lavender buds.
- Seal with an airtight container or lid.
- Place the jar in a warm windowsill. Avoid intense direct sunlight, as gentle warmth is all that’s needed.
- Every couple of days, turn the jar upside down and back over to help distribute the lavender throughout the honey.
- Allow the honey infusion to steep for 6–8 weeks.
- Strain out the lavender buds and transfer the honey to a clean jar.
Your homemade lavender-infused honey is now ready to enjoy.
Choosing the Best Honey
Almost any honey will work, but each type creates a slightly different flavor.
Some favorites include:
- Raw wildflower honey for a rich, complex taste
- Orange blossom honey for bright citrus notes
- Clover honey for a mild sweetness
- Local honey purchased from local farmers
- Unfiltered honey for a more natural option
You can also use regular honey, although many people prefer raw honey because it retains more of its natural characteristics.
No matter which particular honey you choose, using a quality honey makes all the difference in the final flavor.
Why Use Culinary Lavender?
Not all lavender is meant to be eaten.
Always choose culinary lavender or food-grade organic lavender flowers. These varieties are grown specifically for cooking and baking and provide the best lavender flavor without becoming overly bitter.
If you grow your own lavender, be sure it hasn’t been treated with pesticides before using the blossoms in food.
Do You Need to Heat the Honey?
No.
This recipe relies on time instead of heat. Allowing the honey to infuse naturally helps preserve the flavor and texture of the honey.
Some recipes recommend warming honey in a double boiler over medium heat, but that’s unnecessary for this easy recipe. A warm windowsill provides enough gentle warmth for a slow infusion.
Ways to Use Lavender Honey
Once your honey is finished, you’ll find yourself reaching for it often.
Try it in:
- Your favorite tea, especially chamomile tea or loose leaf tea
- Coffee
- Homemade simple syrup
- Lavender lemonade
- Yogurt
- Oatmeal
- Pancakes
- Toast
- Warm biscuits
- Marinades
- Salad dressings
- Cheese boards with goat cheese
- Desserts like ice cream
- Fresh berries and other fresh fruit
Its delicate floral flavor adds a touch of sophistication to everyday recipes.
Potential Health Benefits
While this recipe is intended for educational purposes and isn’t medical advice, many people enjoy herbal honey because of the potential benefits of both ingredients.
Honey has been used for centuries as a natural sweetener and is often enjoyed to soothe a sore throat.
Lavender has long been appreciated for its calming aroma, and many people associate it with the relaxation benefits of lavender, aromatherapy calmness, and the soothing properties of lavender.
Although essential oils and lavender oil are commonly used in aromatherapy, this recipe uses whole lavender blossoms, creating a gentle, food-safe infusion instead.
Adding a little bit of this honey to your daily routine may be a pleasant way to enjoy these traditional ingredients.
Tips for Success
- Use the right amount of lavender so the floral flavor doesn’t overpower the honey.
- Store your honey at room temperature in an airtight jar.
- Keep moisture out of the jar to help preserve freshness.
- Be patient… the slow infusion creates the best flavor.
- Taste after six weeks. If you’d like a stronger lavender flavor, let it steep a little longer before straining.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this with regular honey?
Yes. Both regular honey and raw honey work well, although many people prefer the richer flavor of raw varieties.
Can I use fresh lavender?
It’s best to use dried lavender because it contains less moisture, helping your honey stay fresh longer.
Can I speed up the infusion?
You can gently warm the honey using a double boiler, but the slow method develops a smoother flavor without exposing the honey to unnecessary heat.
How long does lavender infused honey last?
When stored in a sealed glass container at room temperature, it can last for many months.
Supporting Local Beekeepers
Whenever possible, consider buying honey from local farmers or a nearby lavender farm that partners with beekeepers. Purchasing locally supports sustainable beekeeping practices, encourages the preservation of bees, and helps protect the pollinators that play such an important role in our food system.
If you don’t have a local source, many varieties of quality honey can also be found at a major grocery chain.
Final Thoughts
This homemade lavender infused honey is the perfect combination of simple ingredients and incredible flavor. Whether you’re a tea lover looking to sweeten your favorite tea, adding it to coffee, swirling it into hot chocolate, or drizzling it over ice cream, it’s a wonderful addition to countless recipes.
After just a few couple of weeks, you’ll begin to notice the honey taking on the lavender’s aroma, but waiting the full 6–8 weeks creates the richest flavor. The result is a naturally sweet honey with a delicate floral taste that captures the sweet taste of summer in every spoonful.
If you enjoy homemade infusions, this easy recipe is a perfect ingredient to keep on hand for everyday use or to package as beautiful holiday gifts. It adds a touch of relaxation and natural flavor to your kitchen while showcasing the delightful culinary experience that comes from combining two timeless ingredients. Whether you discovered this recipe last year or today, it’s sure to become your new favorite honey for years to come.
Lavender Infused Honey
Equipment
- 8-ounce glass jar with airtight lid
- measuring spoons
- Fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
- Small spoon (optional)
Ingredients
- 6 ounces raw honey
- 2 tablespoons dried culinary lavender buds
Instructions
- Add the dried lavender buds to a clean 8-ounce glass jar.
- Pour the raw honey over the lavender until the buds are completely covered.
- Seal the jar tightly with an airtight lid.
- Place the jar in a warm windowsill, avoiding prolonged direct sunlight.
- Every 2–3 days, gently turn the jar upside down and back over to evenly distribute the lavender throughout the honey.
- Allow the honey to infuse for 6–8 weeks.
- Once the desired flavor is reached, strain out the lavender buds using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
- Transfer the infused honey to a clean jar and store at room temperature.
Notes
Different varieties of honey, such as raw wildflower, clover, or orange blossom honey, will create slightly different flavor profiles.
Enjoy lavender infused honey in tea, coffee, lemonade, over warm biscuits, on yogurt, drizzled over fresh fruit or ice cream, or paired with goat cheese.
Stored in a sealed jar at room temperature, this honey will keep for many months.
