Amazing Uses for Honey
Everyone has heard about honey. A sweet treat from the beehive that can be drizzled on biscuits. But maybe you have wondered “what else can I do with honey?” or “are there more uses for honey than just sweetening my coffee?” The answer is a big sticky yes. In this post you will learn some amazing practical ways to use honey in your every day life. And sure – you can put some in your coffee too!
Honey is not gathered – it is made by bees and they do a darn good job of it. It is only one of several amazing products from bees that we enjoy to make our lives better.
Everyday Ways to Enjoy Honey
Bees make honey from nectar collected from millions of flowers. Honey naturally contains a mix of glucose, fructose, sucrose, and a few other goodies from the hive – such as added bee enzymes.
Yes it is sweet but it behaves a little differently than plain sugar. That special chemistry is part of what makes it such a versatile—and delicious—addition to everyday meals.
Sweetening Drinks and Morning Favorites
Honey is a wonderful sweetener for warm drinks because it blends so well. The tradition of sweetening tea with honey is centuries old.
It can also offer a flavor boost to your morning coffee that plain sugar just can’t match. I like to make a honey bee latte on a cold morning to start the day. Use a little honey or a lot depending on your preferences.
Honey Drizzle on Fruit, Oatmeal or even Yogurt
A swirl of honey in your favorite yogurt is always a good idea. And, a pretty drizzle of honey on top of warm oatmeal really adds something special. Fruit such as strawberries and bananas can be added to the mix for extra nutrition and flavor.
Spreading on Toast, Biscuits, and Cornbread
One of life’s greatest simple pleasures is honey spread on warm bread. It melts right into the bread – especially cornbread and tastes like something from Granny’s kitchen. Of course, I like to add a bit of butter too!
Take the extra step and make some cinnamon honey butter to go with your fresh bread or rolls. A real crowd pleasure for sure!
Using Honey in Cooking & Baking
Among the huge number of uses for honey we can not omit our favorite honey recipes. Every good cook knows that baking with honey adds flavor and helps baked goods remain moist.
Don’t be afraid to use honey in your sauces and marinades. The homemade versions often taste so much fresher – like my honey teriyaki sauce.
While no baking is involved, enjoy the full wonder of this product of the hive by making your own creamed honey – with or without additives.
Create Honey Infusions
You can create many special honey infusions using various herbs and spices. A local favorite is Hot honey made using Jalapeno peppers. Adjust the “heat” in the recipe by the number of peppers used. But, don’t blame me if you burn your tongue!
Enjoy Eating Raw Honey
Hands down one of best ways to use honey is to eat it. Straight from the jar it is a natural energy boost. You can even make your own honey sticks to take with you on a hike.
What about the wax??? Yes, you can eat beeswax. In fact, there are many interesting ways to enjoy eating honeycomb paired with cheese is a favorite.
Place small pieces of comb on a platter with slices of cheeses like brie, goat cheese, or gorgonzola.
Keeping Honey Fresh & Ready to Use
Honey is a naturally long lasting substance – but you still need to take care of it. Sometimes, honey crystallizes – but you can fix or decrystillize honey without damaging it.
Be sure to read my full guide on how to store honey to protect your investment.
Honey for Health & Home Comfort
While honey can not take the place of proper medical care, it has a long history of being used for every comfort and care. Many homes keep a jar on hand to use as homeopathic medicine or relief from minor ailments.
Soothing Throats & Coughs Naturally
From seasonal allergies to full blown winter colds, honey is a friend to those in need of relief. With the advice from my veterinarian – I used to give some honey to my dog to aid with allergies – but check with your vet first!
I like this honey and cinnamon remedy for cough relief . It won’t cure you but it will ease your discomfort.
If you enjoy making natural products – try making homemade cough drops. They provide some symptom relief and you can pronounce every ingredient in the recipe.
When a really nasty sore throat arrives, try this – infuse honey with lemon and ginger. It has helped me through many a sore throat.
Supports Digestion & Gut Health
Honey contains enzymes that can aid in the human digestive processes. It is considered a prebiotic and may be beneficial for some suffers of stomach discomfort.
A teaspoon of honey per day may provide relief to those suffering from acid reflux or other minor digestive issues. Of course, your doctor is the best one to advise you on stomach issues. It is not appropriate for everyone.
Remember, infants (under 1 year old) should never be given raw honey due to the small risk of botulism. (A risk present in most raw foods.)
The use of honey in herbal tea (such as chamomile) with a bit of lemon juice added is believe to be very relaxing.
It may help soothe those of us who suffer from nervousness and anxiety (per Dr. Oz). Start with a tablespoon per cup and adjust as needed.
Body & Skin Care Uses for Honey
Honey has many attributes in honey that promote healthy skin and hair. It is antibacterial, antifungal and an antioxidant powerhouse. It is also a humectant that seals in moisture.
Soothes Dry Skin
Egyptian Queen Cleopatra reportedly took baths in milk and honey. But, if you want a less messy alternative, consider making a DIY honey salt scrub or even a fizzing honey bath bomb for your beauty treatment.
Beeswax is very good for skin care too. You will often find honey and beeswax used together as a mixture with other oils and butters (olive oil, coconut oil etc.) to promote skin healing.
Honey is soothing to the sensitive skin of our lips. Make your own beeswax lip balm and include a little honey. It must be mixed well though to prevent separation from the waxes and oils in homemade products.
Treat Minor Burns & Wounds
Honey has been used as a treatment for minor burns for thousands of years. Lightly apply to a minor burn and cover with a bandage. For ease of use, make your own honey burn salve with aloe.
As a wound treatment, honey has a long history of promoting healing and reducing inflammation. For minor scrapes and scratches, just spread a bit of honey on the cleaned wound site and bandage.
FAQs
Honey is still a sugar, but it’s absorbed a bit differently and has a slightly lower glycemic index than regular table sugar. Many people simply prefer its flavor and the natural enzymes it contains.
Bees bring nectar back to the hive, in a special organ -called a “honey stomach” or crop.
This has lead to some misconceptions and the rumor that honey is bee vomit? It is certainly not bee vomit as no real digestion takes place in the crop.
Honey is a humectant that helps lock in natural moisture. It also is an exfoliant and helps smooth the skin surface.
Honey will not go bad as long as you store it in a jar with a tight-fitting lid to protect it from moisture.
Honey is a natural sugar. It does have carbs and calories so don’t overindulge. A very few people may be allergic to honey (or the bee pollen in it) but this is not common.
Final Thoughts
Honey is a remarkable natural sweetener with far more uses than most people realize. From cooking and comfort to skin care and DIY projects, this golden gift from the hive is endlessly versatile. Now, how many uses for honey can you add to the list?