This Stardew Valley guide delves into the often-overlooked, yet highly profitable, world of honey production. While farming and animal husbandry are central to the game, crafting artisanal goods like honey offers a lucrative alternative. This guide, updated January 9, 2025, covers everything from building bee houses to maximizing honey profits, incorporating the latest updates from version 1.6.
Bee House Construction
Honey production hinges on the Bee House, unlocked at Farming Level 3. Crafting requires:
- 40 Wood
- 8 Coal
- 1 Iron Bar
- 1 Maple Syrup
Alternatively, a Bee House can be obtained from the Fall Crops Bundle (Community Center) or the Mayor's Prize Counter. Place the Bee House outdoors (farm, forest, quarry) for honey production every 3-4 days (excluding winter). Ginger Island offers year-round production. Moving a Bee House (axe or pickaxe) drops any ready honey. Note: Bee Houses are unproductive in the Greenhouse.
Flowers and Honey Varieties
Proximity to flowers (within five tiles, including Garden Pots) dictates honey type and value. Without flowers, Wild Honey (100g base, 140g with Artisan profession) is produced.
The Artisan profession (Farming Level 10) boosts artisan goods by 40%. Honey prices (base and Artisan):
| 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 |
Harvesting flowers before honey collection reverts the honey to Wild Honey. Conversely, wait for desired flower blooms for specific honey types. Wild Seeds (e.g., Sweet Peas) yield Wild Honey.
Honey Uses
High-value honey is best sold directly. Wild Honey or cheaper varieties serve in crafting and gifting:
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Mead: Honey in a Keg produces Mead. Aging in a Cask improves quality and value:
- Normal: 200g (280g Artisan)
- Silver: 250g (350g Artisan)
- Gold: 300g (420g Artisan)
- Iridium: 400g (560g Artisan) Honey type doesn't affect Mead value; use Wild Honey for maximum profit.
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Crafting: Honey, Hardwood, and Fiber create a Warp Totem: Farm (Farming Level 8).
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Community Center: Honey completes the Pantry's Artisan Bundle. It also appears in Fish Pond quests.
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Gifting: Honey is a "liked" gift for most villagers (except Maru and Sebastian). Wild Honey is ideal for friendship building. Mead is also well-received (avoid Penny, Sebastian, and children).
This comprehensive guide empowers you to establish a thriving honey operation in Stardew Valley, significantly boosting your income and enriching your farming experience. Remember to adjust your flower planting to maximize honey value and consider the various uses of honey and mead to fully leverage this often-underutilized resource.
