Mead is a distinctive alcoholic beverage made from three simple ingredients: fermented honey, water, and yeast. It holds the title of the world’s oldest known alcoholic drink, believed to have been enjoyed by humans nearly 3,000 years before wine was ever produced. Often referred to as “honey wine,” mead is similar to wine in its fermentation process, but honey replaces grapes as the sugar source. Like wine, mead can be aged for months or even years, typically boasts an alcohol content of 10-14%, and is usually sold by the bottle. With the exception of braggot meads, which contain grains, mead is gluten-free.

What Does Mead Taste Like?

The taste of mead is as diverse as the flowers that produce the honey used in its creation. The flavor profile of mead depends on the type of honey, the level of sweetness or dryness, and any additional ingredients like fruits, spices, or herbs. Traditional mead is crafted with only honey, water, and yeast, but various types include added flavors that create a wide spectrum of tastes. While many assume mead to be sweet due to its honey base, it can actually be dry, semi-sweet, or sweet, similar to wine.

Types of Mead

Mead comes in an array of flavors, ensuring there is something to please every palate.

  • Melomel: Mead made with fruit, which can be dry or sweet, with varying levels of fruitiness.
  • Cyser: A type of melomel that is made with apples.
  • Pyment: Another melomel, but made with grapes.
  • Black Mead: A dark mead made with black currants.
  • Metheglin: Mead infused with herbs and spices, traditionally used as a remedy for ailments. Common spices include cinnamon, rosemary, nutmeg, clove, ginger, and thyme.
  • Bochet: Mead made with caramelized or burned honey, resulting in rich, smoky flavors like toffee or caramel.
  • Braggot: A hybrid between mead and beer, made by fermenting honey with malted barley. Popular in medieval times.
  • Sparkling Mead: Carbonated mead, similar to sparkling wine or Champagne.

Mead in decanter and with 2 glassesHow to Drink Mead

Mead is traditionally served chilled in a wine or cocktail glass, but its versatility allows it to be enjoyed in many ways. Whether served ice-cold, warm, or even hot, the best way to drink mead depends on its style and ingredients.

Mead Cocktails

Mead is an excellent ingredient for cocktails. Try adding a splash of sweet, fruity mead to a Gin Fizz or Vodka Tonic, mix it with sparkling water and fruit for a refreshing mead Sangria, or add herbal mead to your hot tea. The possibilities are endless, making mead a unique addition to any mixologist’s toolkit.

How to Store Mead

Unopened bottles of mead should be stored in a cool, dark place, such as a pantry, cabinet, or wine cellar. Lighter meads with lower alcohol content should be kept in the refrigerator. It’s important to avoid exposure to sunlight or heat, as this can negatively affect the taste and shelf life of the mead.

Should Mead Be Refrigerated After Opening?

Once opened, light meads with less than 13% alcohol should be resealed and refrigerated. Higher alcohol content meads can be stored in a cool, dark place. While mead does oxidize like wine, the effects are less noticeable, allowing an opened bottle to last for weeks or even months if stored properly.

Shelf Life of Mead

Mead, like wine, has no definitive expiration date and can be aged for years if stored correctly. The shelf life depends on the alcohol content and aging process, with higher alcohol meads generally lasting longer. For best results, consult the manufacturer for specific recommendations.

Sustainability & Nutrition

Mead is a sustainable beverage choice, fitting well within the paleo and locavore movements. Unlike wine, which requires specific growing conditions, and beer, which needs large-scale grain production, mead can be produced wherever honey is available. This allows for local sourcing of honey, supporting local agriculture and reducing environmental impact.

In addition to its sustainability, mead offers other benefits:

  • Honey has a lower glycemic index than table sugar, leading to a more steady metabolic response.
  • Honey has natural antibiotic properties.
  • Unpasteurized, unfiltered honey can help reduce allergies due to local pollen content.
  • Supporting mead production also supports bee populations, crucial for pollinating crops.

History of Mead

Mead predates civilization, likely consumed by early humans long before the cultivation of grapes or grains. Pottery from 9000 BC in northern China shows traces of fermented honey, suggesting that mead was one of the first alcoholic beverages. In Europe, mead was consumed by the Bell Beaker Culture and is featured in ancient texts from India, Greece, and Ethiopia. Vikings and Norse mythology celebrate mead as the drink of warriors and poets, though it was viewed as a barbarian drink by the Romans.

Mead’s decline began towards the end of the Middle Ages, as grape wine became more popular and cheaper sugar reduced the demand for honey. However, today mead is enjoying a resurgence, appealing to those seeking a gluten-free, paleo-friendly alternative to beer.

Mead Today

The revival of mead is driven by interest in local, craft beverages and the desire for gluten-free options. Whatever your reason for exploring mead, its rich history and diverse flavors make it a drink worth discovering.

Ready to give mead a try? Below are some of the better known meaderies in Northern Michigan.

Visit Up North Wineries and discover 10 Interesting Facts About Mead.