The Benefits of Thyme Honey: Virtues and Uses

Of all terroir honeys, thyme honey is probably the one whose benefits are the most renowned. Used since antiquity (the ancient Egyptians already used it for wound healing), it owes its virtues to thyme itself, an aromatic plant rich in active compounds that bees concentrate in their honey. Irritated throat, natural defences, skin care: here is what this exceptional honey can really do for you, and how to use it well.

The benefits of thyme honey at a glance

• The most renowned honey for the throat and coughs, thanks to antiseptic thymol
• Traditional support for immunity during winter
• A historic ally for the healing of minor wounds
• A higher antioxidant content than pale honeys
• A powerful taste that means you can use less of it to sweeten

Where do the virtues of thyme honey come from?

Thyme is one of the best-documented medicinal plants of the Mediterranean basin. Its essential oils contain thymol and carvacrol, two phenolic compounds whose antiseptic and antibacterial properties have been widely studied. As bees forage on thyme flowers, they transfer some of these compounds into the nectar, which concentrates them further as it is turned into honey.

As a result, thyme honey combines the assets of all honeys (natural sugars, enzymes, a soothing effect) with the specific assets of its plant of origin. This is what makes it an “active honey”, like the famous Manuka honey from New Zealand, with the Provençal terroir as a bonus.

The 5 main benefits of thyme honey

1. Soothing the throat and calming coughs

This is its best-known use, and the best established. The texture of honey coats the throat with a protective film that calms irritation, while the thymol cleanses the area. A teaspoon on its own, left to melt in the mouth, or stirred into a warm herbal tea, is the classic remedy for a dry cough and a painful throat. Our guide which honey for a cough? compares the most effective honeys: thyme takes first place.

2. Supporting immunity in winter

In Provençal tradition, thyme honey is the winter tonic: a spoonful every morning, or a thyme, lemon and honey infusion at the first shiver. Its antioxidants and antibacterial properties make it natural support for the body’s defences, as we explain in our article on the benefits of honey for boosting immunity.

3. Promoting healing

This is the historic use of thyme honey: from ancient Egypt to today’s hospitals, honey has been applied to the skin to promote the healing of minor wounds, superficial burns and chapped skin. Thyme honey is traditionally preferred for this use because of its superior antiseptic activity. For a serious wound, of course, consult a healthcare professional.

4. A boost of antioxidants

Like all amber and dark honeys, thyme honey has a high content of antioxidant phenolic compounds, which help protect cells against oxidative stress. The more coloured and aromatic a honey, the higher this content generally is. Thyme ranks well.

5. Less sugar, more flavour

Its powerful aroma is a little-known slimming asset: a small spoonful of thyme honey gives as much flavour as a large spoonful of a neutral honey. For anyone looking to replace refined sugar with honey, it is one of the best choices.

Honey and thyme: a winning pairing in an infusion

Thyme honey should not be confused with thyme tea with honey, but the two go wonderfully together. For the quintessential winter tisane: steep a sprig of thyme for 5 to 10 minutes in simmering water, let it cool a little, then add a spoonful of thyme honey and a squeeze of lemon. Honey should never be stirred into a boiling liquid, which would destroy its enzymes.

This double dose of thyme (the plant and its honey) brings together the best of both: the essential oils of the infusion and the soothing properties of the honey.

How can you enjoy thyme honey every day?

• By the spoonful: a teaspoon in the morning or at bedtime in winter;
• In a warm herbal tea: thyme, lemon verbena, camomile, always off the heat;
• At breakfast: on toast, in yoghurt or fromage frais;
• In cooking: roast vegetables, glazed meats, warm goat’s cheese. Its aromas hold up well to cooking. Find ideas in our honey recipes.

Precautions: like all honeys, it is not suitable for babies under 12 months, and it remains a sugar to be eaten in moderation if you have diabetes.

Where can you find genuine thyme honey?

Pure thyme honey is rare: thyme flowers for a short time, depending on the weather, and harvests are small. Most jars sold in supermarkets are pasteurised blends of various origins. To really enjoy the benefits described here, choose a raw, unpasteurised honey with a precise origin, from a producer or an artisan honey house.

Our thyme honey harvested in Provence comes from the Provençal garrigue and is jarred without heating, with all its thymol and aromas. Discover all our honeys harvested in Provence too.