How to Make Honey Sticks (with Pictures)
As a natural sugar, honey is applauded for being a high energy snack. But, who wants to carry around a jar of honey in your pocket? No one. That is why having a small serving in a portable pack is so appealing. When you learn how to make honey sticks at home, you can be sure that they were made under the very best conditions.
Homemade Honey Sticks
Why would anyone want to go to the trouble of making honey sticks at home? Honestly, they do require some time and effort. It is the appeal of knowing for sure that your sticks (sometimes called “honey straws” are filled with only pure raw honey.
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You know this because you are the one who put it in there! Now, there is nothing wrong with buying commercial honey straws to enjoy.
Just understand that most of them contain other additives and flavors beyond those that can from a beehive. Be an informed consumer and read the labels before you purchase.
If you are a beekeeper, hopefully you enjoy harvesting some honey from your own hives. Whipping up a few honey sticks is a great way to give (or sell) customers a sample.
Many times while selling honey at an event, those who bought honey straws can back for a bigger jar. If honey is stored properly, it never spoils and that is a good selling tip to share with others.
Equipment
You will need some type of sealer. It will melt the plastic ends of the straws enough to lock in the liquid – yet not get so hot as to destroy the structure of the straw.
My favorite is an impulse sealer – mine has lasted for years and is still going strong. It is a larger model because I made a lot of honey straws at one time. A small one will work too.
Materials
- honey
- straws (bulk clear .23″ diameter) & a few (.20 diameter)
- plastic condiment bottle
There is no need to buy a large container of honey – even a small jar will make a lot of honey sticks. It should be totally liquid with no signs of crystallization in the jar.
If you do see crystals, it is best to fix the honey by using a de-crystallization process before making your honey straws.
We are using two sizes of straws in this tutorial. Normal sized clear drinking straws are used to make the actual honey sticks. They have a diameter of .23″ If you can get some that are not wrapped, that makes things easier.
You also need a few small straws (I usually find striped ones locally that have the bendy elbow on them.)This smaller straw is .20″ in diameter – it fits closely inside the larger straw.
Plastic squeeze condiment bottles are my favorite reservoir for filling honey straws. They can be found almost anywhere and are inexpensive.
Filling Honey Straws
1. Once you have chosen the size straw you want to use it is time to prepare them. If your straws are wrapped in paper, the first step is to get those papers off. Do a bunch of them at one time – before your hands get sticky.
It is easiest to use a regular straw and make your honey stick to that length. You can cut them to size if you want a special length. But, that adds a step to the process.
2. Use your sealer (which ever sealing mechanism you choose to seal one end of the straw. Let it sit for a few minutes to cool.
3. It’s time to create your filling bottle. Use scissors to cut a tiny end of the tip off of the end of the lid for your condiment jar. These containers are very inexpensive – it is not a bad idea to have more than 1.
Our goal is to be able to insert a straw into the tip and have a tight fit. If you cut the tip off too much, you will have leakage.
4. We always want to avoid heating raw honey whenever possible. However, this process requires that the honey be warm and have a liquid viscosity.
To achieve this without damaging your honey, fill the condiment bottle about half full – attach the lid. Then, set the whole thing in a cup of very hot water (not boiling). After a few minutes, you should be ready to proceed.
5. Pick up one of the straws that is sealed on one end. Insert your condiment bottle straw deep into the sealed straw. Now, gently squeeze and you pull the bottle straw out.
If your honey is the right viscosity and your technique steady – you will leave behind a straw full of honey. Leave just a bit of space empty at the end because now we have to seal this end.
6. Use your sealer to seal the second end of the straw. Its okay if there is a bit of honey in the way – especially if you are using a sealer like mine. Be careful to avoid burns, but you can wipe the excess away with a damp cloth.
Now place your newly created honey stick in a pan. They will need to be rinsed well with cool water to wash off any sticky residue.
Enjoy and Share
People love honey sticks but so many of the commercial ones contain sugar water and unnatural flavors. When you know how to make your own honey sticks, you can be sure they contain nothing but 100% pure raw bee honey.
Honestly, other than the sealer – this project is very inexpensive in regards to materials. But, it is time consuming so if you plan to sell them – keep this in mind.
When I used to sell them, my honey sticks were 25 cents each. Another option that works well and makes it easier in regards to having change on hand – sell them 4 for $1.
I have made and sold thousands of these – just a few hundred at a time. It is a great way to market your honey as you are allowing people to have a small sample for a small price.
Everyone loves the idea of having a honey energy boost in their pocket. A little sweetness that goes a long way.