How to Add Honey to Tea
Honey and tea have been natural companions for centuries. Whether you enjoy hot tea or iced tea, adding a little honey is an easy way to sweeten your favorite brew. The trick is knowing how much honey to use and when to add it for the best flavor. You really can not go wrong but I’ll share some tips to help you enjoy your cup of tea just a bit more.
I’m a beekeeper so I have a lot of first hand experience with honey. In fact, everyone should because there are so many ways to use honey. Though being a southern girl – I’m not a connoisseur or hot tea. My friends tell me it is awesome.
Best Way to Sweeten Tea with Honey
Excessive heat can affect some of the natural enzymes and other compounds found in raw honey. For this reason, I prefer to wait until after the tea has finished steeping before adding honey.
- Heat the water for your cup, mugs or pitcher.
- Add the tea bag and let it steep the desired amount of time.
- Remove tea leaves or bag and let it cool for a couple of minutes.
- Cautiously take a sip. If it doesn’t burn your mouth – it is time to stir in the honey.
- That’s it – enjoy.
How Much Honey Should You Add to a Cup of Tea?
Knowing just how much honey to add to your cup of tea takes a bit of experimentation. Is the tea bold or of a more fragile flavor?
My general recommendation is to add one tablespoon of honey to 1 cup of tea. If you prefer lightly sweetened tea instead – start with 1 teaspoon and adjust. You can always add more but you can’t get it back out!
The variety of honey used may also require more or less to get the flavor you desire. Use the same principle to make honey sweetened lemonade – it is good hot or cold.
Sweetening Iced Tea
If you are making iced tea, the same principle applies. Brew your tea in the manner desired, let it cool on the counter for just a bit.
Then, stir honey in the tea while it is still warm – before placing in refrigerator or adding ice.
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Choosing the Right Honey
Choosing the right honey for your cup of tea might be more confusing than you think. Is it important to you to use raw honey for possible increased nutrients?
The terms raw, pure and natural are often used rather loosely in marketing. But, I always prefer raw honey.
When shopping, read the honey label on the jar closely and try to understand exactly what you are getting. A blend is just fine but know what you are paying for.
Light vs Dark
Bees make honey from many different nectar sources. Each floral source provides it’s own flavors, aromas and even colors. In general, light colored honey tends to be more mild – while dark honey can be very bold.
Sometimes, you can even find purple honey – that occurs naturally but that is a rare one.
A regional favorite in my area is Sourwood Honey, we can never produce enough it. Some of my mountains friends say that Sourwood is the ONLY honey 😉
Educate yourself on the different varieties or types of honey and their range in flavor. You may want a strong or bold flavor that you can taste or something more delicate that does not overpower your tea.
So put on the tea pot, pour a hot cup – let it cool a few minutes and add your favorite honey. It is rather fun to use a mini pack of honey varieties and see if folks can guess when flavor you used.
Popular Tea and Honey Pairings
As with any flavor, your personal taste preference plays a role in deciding which is the best for you.
Here are some popular combinations but don’t get hung up on them. You can just use regular honey – choose a mild one to avoid over-powering delicate tea flavor.
- Blueberry or Orange Blossom with Earl Grey or any Breakfast Tea
- Tupelo, Clover, or Holly with Jasmine tea
- Clover, Linden or Avocado with Green teas
- Alfalfa, Sage or Clover with Chamomile tea
Benefits of Adding Honey to Tea
Many resources tout the benefits that honey brings to your cup of tea. Of course, it is just fine to do so because it tastes good, right?
- natural sweetener – an alternative to granulated sugar or synthetic sweeteners
- antioxidant properties – honey has antibacterial properties and antioxidants
- energy boost – a natural carb honey gives you energy
- soothing effects – hot tea sweetened with honey can sooth indigestion problems
Some some folks enjoy making homemade honey sticks to take along while hiking or running. I like making them with my honey – but hey not everyone is a beekeeper!
You can buy them in a variety of flavors ready to go – a great gift idea.
A hot cup of tea with honey is very soothing. In fact, honey and cinnamon for cough and cold relief is a common home treatment .
One of my go to’s during the cold and flu season is a honey, lemon and ginger tonic that I keep on hand for sore throats.
Does Hot Tea Destroy the Benefits of Honey?
Any raw product that is over heated can experience a decline in its natural properties. Even with vegetables, we all know it is possible to over cook them. They lose color, flavor and nutritional value.
Ayurveda Principles
Perhaps you have read about heated honey becoming toxic. This dates back to those who followed the Ayurveda beliefs.
In general, adhering to the idea that it was important to consume raw foods without changing any of their molecular structure.
But, if heat made honey truly toxic, what about pasteurized honey. No longer a raw food, it that has been pasteurized (heated) to kill any bacteria that might be present. This allows people with immune problems to enjoy it safely.
FAQs
Honey is a raw food that should not be consumed by young children or immune suppressed individuals. However, for most of the honey-loving public, it is a nutritious sweetener that is safe.
Personal preference and it depends on how big the cup is. For a standard 8 oz cup, most people start with 1 tablespoon and adjust up or down for personal tastes.
If you are using raw honey and want to preserve all it’s natural goodness – brew the tea first – let it cool and bit and then stir in your honey.
Don’t add honey to boiling water. Let things cool down just a bit. This is the best way to use honey in tea as a natural sweetener without losing its health benefits..
Yes, but honey dissolves much more easily in warm liquid. For iced tea, stir the honey into the tea while it is still warm, then chill or add ice.
Final Thoughts
Tea is a soothing drink that brings comfort to both mind and body. Sometimes, we just love holding a warm cup of tea—even if the weather is nice. So put on the tea pot, pour a hot cup, let it cool a few minutes and add your favorite honey.
You never mentioned using a medal spoon with honey? We use wood not metal correct?
Honestly, I use either! Even though the Ph of honey is acidic – I’ve never worried about a problem.