Honey Gift Ideas, a Label Guide and One Big Caution

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Honey is an easy gift to give. This page covers one important safety caution, what the FDA's labeling guidance says, and ways to give honey without making health claims.

Don't give honey to babies under 12 months

Poison Control says honey can contain botulism spores, and that these spores can release a toxin that poisons infants. Its prevention advice is not to feed honey, or products containing honey, to infants under 12 months old. If you're giving honey to a family with a baby, say so on the card.

Reading a honey label

The FDA's Guidance for Industry: Proper Labeling of Honey and Honey Products is a set of nonbinding recommendations. It says:

A product that contains only honey is named "honey," and a single-ingredient food doesn't need an ingredient statement.
Naming a floral source is optional. A label may say "Clover Honey," "Orange Blossom Honey" or "Wild Flower Honey" if there's information to support that plant as the chief floral source, and the claim must be truthful and not misleading.
Honey mixed with another sweetener can't be labeled only "honey." It should say something like "Blend of honey and corn syrup," and list both ingredients.
Honey with a flavor, such as natural raspberry flavor, should be named something like "raspberry-flavored honey," with "honey" and "natural flavor" in the ingredient statement.

The guidance doesn't use the word "raw" (we searched its text). So terms like "raw," "unfiltered" or "pure" are a maker's description, and a reason to read the label and ask the seller what the word means.

Gift ideas

A sampler of single-flower honeys

A good way to taste the differences. Check each jar's label for its floral source and its ingredient list.

Honey with a tea or coffee set

Pair a jar with a mug or tea sampler, so the gift is the pairing, not any health benefit.

A dipper and a jar

A honey dipper and a glass jar are a kitchen gift that works with whatever honey the recipient likes.

Honey from a local seller

Farmers' markets and local beekeepers sell honey. Ask what's in the jar, and read the label.

Beeswax candles

See beeswax candles: what to check.

Two shops to browse

These are plain mentions, not links, and we haven't tasted or tested their products. Basic Honey Co. describes its store as raw honey and beeswax, with clover, gallberry and orange blossom honeys on its homepage. Savannah Bee Company lists varieties such as tupelo and whipped honey, raw honeycomb and gift sets on its site.

Source: FDA, Guidance for Industry: Proper Labeling of Honey and Honey Products; Poison Control, Botulism and honey. Checked Oct 26, 2026.

Source (maker or seller page, not linked): Basic Honey Co. homepage (basichoney.com); Savannah Bee Company homepage (savannahbee.com). Checked Oct 26, 2026. These are the seller's own statements, not our testing.