In Stardew Valley, players strive to thrive off the land, not just through traditional farming and animal husbandry, but also by crafting artisanal products. One such product that often flies under the radar is 
Honey. This sweet commodity is not only easy to produce but can also become a highly profitable venture. With just a few 
Bee Houses placed around your farm, you can start your own honey empire.
Updated on January 9, 2025, by Demaris Oxman: Honey remains an unsung hero in Stardew Valley, serving as a valuable artisan product and encouraging players to cultivate flowers for both beauty and profit. Whether you aspire to become the queen bee of your honey farm or simply want to maximize the output from a few Bee Houses, this guide has everything you need to know, reflecting the latest additions and updates from version 1.6.
Building A Bee House
Just as in real life, Honey in Stardew Valley is produced by bees. To start harvesting this sweet resource, players must construct a Bee House, which becomes available at Farming Level 3. Here are the materials needed to craft one:
- 40
Wood - 8
Coal - 1
Iron Bar - 1
Maple Syrup
Alternatively, a Bee House can be obtained as a reward for completing the Fall Crops Bundle at the Community Center or as a potential prize from the mayor's Prize Counter.
Once crafted, place the Bee House outdoors — on your farm, in the forest, or at the quarry. It will produce honey every 3–4 days during all seasons except Winter. On Ginger Island, production continues year-round. You can move the Bee House by using an axe or pickaxe; if honey is ready, it will drop and match the type of nearby flowers, if any.
Note that Bee Houses do not produce honey when placed in the Greenhouse.
Flowers & Honey Types
Without flowers within a five-tile radius, the Bee House will generate Wild Honey, valued at 100g (140g with the Artisan profession). However, planting flowers nearby can enhance the type and value of the honey produced. Flowers in 
Garden Pots also count towards this effect.
As Honey is categorized as an Artisan Good, it benefits from the Artisan profession at Farming Level 10, increasing its value by 40%. Below are the base and Artisan sell prices for various honey types:
| Honey Type | Base Sell Price | Artisan Sell Price |
|---|---|---|
 Tulip | 160g | 224g |
 Blue Jazz | 200g | 280g |
 Sunflower | 260g | 364g |
 Summer Spangle | 280g | 392g |
 Poppy | 380g | 532g |
 Fairy Rose | 680g | 952g |
To produce honey from a specific flower, ensure the flower remains unharvested until the honey is collected from the Bee House. If the flower is harvested, the honey will revert to Wild Honey. Conversely, players can delay harvesting the honey until nearby flowers bloom to obtain that particular type of honey.
Flowers grown from Wild Seeds, like Sweet Peas or Daffodils, do not affect the honey type; Bee Houses near these will still produce Wild Honey.
What Honey Is Used For
While the more valuable types of Honey are best sold as-is, players can utilize Wild Honey or other less expensive varieties for crafting or gifting.
Mead
After harvesting, Honey can be processed in a 
Keg to produce 
Mead. At its base quality, Mead fetches 200g and benefits from the Artisan profession. Aging it in a 
Cask can enhance its quality and value:
- Normal: 200g (280g with Artisan profession)
- Silver: 250g (350g with Artisan profession)
- Gold: 300g (420g with Artisan profession)
- Iridium: 400g (560g with Artisan profession)
The type of Honey used to make Mead does not affect its quality or price, making Wild Honey the most cost-effective choice for maximizing profits.
Crafting & Bundles
Although Honey isn't used in Cooking recipes, it's essential for crafting a 
Warp Totem: Farm, which requires 1 Honey, 1 
Hardwood, and 20 
Fiber. Available at Farming Level 8, this totem allows instant teleportation back to the farmhouse from anywhere.
In the Community Center, Honey can be used to complete the Artisan Bundle in the Pantry and may also appear in Fish Pond quests.
Gifting
Honey is a favored gift among many Stardew Valley villagers, boosting friendship levels. All villagers, except Maru and Sebastian, appreciate Honey as a Liked gift. Its abundance makes Wild Honey an ideal choice for stockpiling to impress friends or potential romantic partners.
Mead, the alcoholic derivative of Honey, is also a popular gift, particularly with Pam and Willy. Most villagers enjoy it, but steer clear of giving it to Penny, Sebastian, or any children.
