This Stardew Valley guide focuses on honey production, a lucrative yet often overlooked artisanal product. 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 don't 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.
| Honey Type | Base Sell Price | Artisan Sell Price |
|---|---|---|
| Tulip Honey | 160g | 224g |
| Blue Jazz Honey | 200g | 280g |
| Sunflower Honey | 260g | 364g |
| Summer Spangle | 280g | 392g |
| Poppy Honey | 380g | 532g |
| Fairy Rose Honey | 680g | 952g |
Wild Seeds don't affect honey type.
Honey Uses
Higher-value honeys are best sold directly. Wild Honey and cheaper varieties can be used for crafting and gifting.
Mead Production
Honey in a Keg produces Mead. Mead quality (and price) is unaffected by honey type.
- Normal: 200g (280g with Artisan)
- Silver: 250g (350g)
- Gold: 300g (420g)
- Iridium: 400g (560g)
Aging in a Cask increases Mead quality.
Crafting and Bundles
Honey, Hardwood, and Fiber craft a Warp Totem: Farm (Farming Level 8). Honey completes the Community Center's Artisan Bundle and appears in 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).
