This Stardew Valley guide focuses on honey production, a profitable yet often overlooked artisan good. This guide is updated for version 1.6.
Bee House Construction
Honey is produced by bees housed in Bee Houses. The Bee House 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:
| Honey Type | Base Sell Price | Artisan Sell Price |
|---|---|---|
| Tulip Honey | 160g | 224g |
| Blue Jazz Honey | 200g | 280g |
| Sunflower Honey | 260g | 364g |
| Summer Spangle Honey | 280g | 392g |
| Poppy Honey | 380g | 532g |
| Fairy Rose Honey | 680g | 952g |
Harvesting flowers before honey collection reverts the honey to Wild Honey. Conversely, wait for desired flower blooms before harvesting honey. Flowers from Wild Seeds (Sweet Peas, Daffodils) produce Wild Honey.
Honey Uses
High-value honey is best sold directly. Wild Honey (or cheaper varieties) can be used for crafting and gifting.
Mead: Honey in a Keg produces Mead. Aging in a Cask increases 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: Honey, Hardwood, and Fiber craft a Warp Totem: Farm (Farming Level 8).
Bundles: 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 (avoid Penny, Sebastian, and children).
