Cultivate Sweet Honey in Stardew Valley: Unveil the Secrets

This Stardew Valley guide focuses on honey production, a profitable artisan good often overlooked. Updated January 9, 2025, to reflect version 1.6 updates.

Bee House Construction

Honey is created by bees housed in Bee Houses. Unlocked at Farming Level 3, each Bee House requires:

• 40 Wood
• 8 Coal
• 1 Iron Bar
• 1 Maple Syrup

Bee Houses can also be obtained from the Fall Crops Bundle (Community Center) or the Mayor's Prize Counter.

Place Bee Houses outdoors (farm, forest, quarry). They produce honey every 3-4 days (all seasons except Winter; year-round on Ginger Island). Harvesting with an axe or pickaxe drops ready honey. Bee Houses in the Greenhouse are unproductive.

Honey Types and Flower Influence

Without nearby flowers (within five tiles), Bee Houses produce Wild Honey (100g, 140g with Artisan profession). Nearby flowers (including those in Garden Pots) change honey type and value. Harvesting flowers before honey collection reverts the honey to Wild Honey.

Artisan profession (Farming Level 10) increases artisan good value by 40%.

Wild Seed flowers (Sweet Peas, Daffodils) yield Wild Honey.

Honey Uses

Higher-value honeys are best sold directly. Wild Honey and others can be used for crafting or gifting.

Mead Production

Honey in a Keg produces Mead. Artisan profession affects Mead value. Casks further increase quality and value:

• Normal: 200g (280g)
• Silver: 250g (350g)
• Gold: 300g (420g)
• Iridium: 400g (560g)

Honey type doesn't affect Mead value; use Wild Honey for maximum profit.

Crafting and Bundles

Honey (with Hardwood and Fiber) crafts a Warp Totem: Farm (Farming Level 8). It's also needed for the Community Center's Artisan Bundle and some Fish Pond quests.

Gifting

Honey is a Liked gift for most villagers (except Maru and Sebastian). Wild Honey is ideal for friendship building. Mead is also a good gift (avoid Penny, Sebastian, and children).