Stardew Valley: How To Cultivate Honey

This Stardew Valley guide explores the profitable world of honey production. Honey, an often-overlooked artisan good, offers significant returns with minimal effort. This guide covers everything from building bee houses to maximizing honey profits and uses.

Updated January 9, 2025, by Demaris Oxman: Honey remains a valuable asset in Stardew Valley, providing a lucrative avenue for farm diversification and aesthetic enhancement. This updated guide incorporates the latest information from version 1.6.

Building a Bee House

Honey production requires a Bee House, unlocked at Farming Level 3. The recipe 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 honey with an axe or pickaxe will drop it; the type depends on nearby flowers. Bee Houses in the Greenhouse are unproductive.

Flowers and Honey Types

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

Honey is an Artisan Good; the Artisan profession (Farming Level 10) boosts Artisan goods by 40%.

Wild Seeds (e.g., Sweet Peas, Daffodils) yield only Wild Honey.

Honey Uses

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

Mead

Honey in a Keg produces Mead. Aging in a Cask improves quality and value:

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

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

Crafting & Bundles

Honey (with Hardwood and Fiber) crafts a Warp Totem: Farm (Farming Level 8). It's also used for the Community Center's Artisan Bundle and 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 well-received (avoid Penny, Sebastian, and children).

This comprehensive guide empowers you to establish a thriving honey operation in Stardew Valley, boosting your profits and enriching your farming experience.