There’s a good reason why we use the word “honey” as a term of an endearment. Honey oozes natural sweetness and even looks heavenly, like an amber-colored beam of sunlight. Like love, it makes anything in life sweeter.

Honey is delicious on its own, but spicing up the bees’ craftsmanship with herbs can give a whole new meaning to the term “nectar of the gods.” Herb-infused honey is incredibly simple, natural, and a great way to add a new flavor to your favorite tea, baklava, pancakes, or any number of delicious foods you might serve at your wedding or bridal shower. For those looking for a unique favor idea, this honey can be prepared in a large batch, poured into decorative jars, and given away as gifts. Imagine how impressed your guests would be to find out you made it yourself!

Flowery herbs don’t just make honey tastier, they also add a medicinal quality. Lavender and chamomile relieve stress, for example. (Just think of it as taking your daily medicine!) To create your own signature blend of honey with your honey, follow these simple steps:

1. Buy a jar of real honey, raw or otherwise. (Local honey is always a bonus, especially if you suffer from seasonal allergies! Local honey will have bits of pollen from native plants in your area, so you’ll slowly build up immunity to the allergens.)

2. Next, choose your herbs. Have fun with this step, but make sure you do research first to figure out what you’re going for and if the herbs are safe to ingest. Our personal favorite herb is lavender, which is pictured here. Other ideas include rose petals, sage, chamomile, peppermint, cinnamon, and vanilla.

3. Fill a large, empty jar halfway with the herbs of your choice.

4. Next, slowly pour the honey over the herbs, filling the jar.

5. Seal tightly and place the jar on a west-facing windowsill that receives plenty of sunlight during the day. Leave for at least two weeks.

6. Once you’ve let the mixture sit at least two weeks, drain the honey through a strainer and pick out any leftover stems or leaves. Pour into a cute jar — or any number of smaller jars — and enjoy!

Even before the wedding festivities begin, herb-infused honey is a great way to sweeten up tea and help you relax during countless hours of wedding planning. So get your honey dipper out, thank the bees, and revel in flowery bliss.

— Story by Felicia Bonanno