Honey Cultivation Tips in Stardew Valley

This Stardew Valley guide focuses on honey production, a profitable yet often overlooked artisanal good. This guide is updated for version 1.6.

Bee House Construction

Honey is produced by bees housed in Bee Houses. The recipe unlocks at Farming Level 3, requiring:

• 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). Hitting a Bee House with an axe or pickaxe moves it; ready honey drops. Bee Houses in the Greenhouse do not produce honey.

Flowers and Honey Types

Without 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. Flowers from Wild Seeds (Sweet Peas, Daffodils) yield Wild Honey.

Honey Uses

Higher-value honeys are best sold directly. Wild Honey and cheaper varieties can be used for crafting or gifts.

Mead Production

Honey in a Keg produces Mead. Mead quality (and price) is unaffected by honey type. Aging in a Cask increases quality:

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

Wild Honey is most profitable for Mead production.

Crafting and Bundles

Honey (with Hardwood and Fiber) crafts a Warp Totem: Farm (Farming Level 8). Honey completes the Community Center's Artisan Bundle and appears in 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 (liked by most, except Penny, Sebastian, and children).