Sugar Syrup Recipe for Healthy Beekeeping

At Millheim Honey Company, we care about the health of your bees. Providing them with the right sugar syrup is crucial for maintaining strong colonies, especially during times when nectar is scarce. Here’s a guide to making sugar syrup for your bees, including the correct ratios for different seasons and needs.

Syrup Recipes

  1. 1:1 Syrup (Most Like Nectar)

    • Best for: Feeding larvae and drawing comb
    • Formula: 1 part sugar to 1 part water
    • Use During: Spring and Summer

  2. 2:1 Syrup (Closer to Honey Viscosity)

    • Best for: Winter or feeding a starving hive
    • Formula: 2 parts sugar to 1 part water
    • Use During: Winter or when bees need extra help

Sugar and Water Proportions Based on Sugar Bags

For a 4 lb. Bag of Sugar

  • 1:1 Ratio:
    • Add 8 cups of water
    • Makes about 3 ½ quart jars (almost 1 gallon)
  • 2:1 Ratio:
    • Add 4 cups of water
    • Makes about 2 quart jars (½ gallon)

For a 10 lb. Bag of Sugar

  • 1:1 Ratio:
    • Add 20 cups of water
    • Makes about 8 ¾ quart jars (2 ½ gallons)
  • 2:1 Ratio:
    • Add 10 cups of water
    • Makes about 4 ½ quarts (1 ½ gallons)

Directions for Preparing Syrup

1:1 Syrup Mixture

  • Add sugar to warm tap water.
  • Stir or shake until fully dissolved.

2:1 Syrup Mixture

  • Heat water on medium heat in a large stock pot until you see steam forming (do not boil, as boiling can cause harmful HMF to form).
  • Turn off the heat and add sugar, stirring until fully dissolved.
  • Stir occasionally (every 10-15 minutes) until all sugar is dissolved.