Mead More Than Just The Drink of Vikings – paNOW

By Discount Liquor

May 6, 2022 | 10:01 AM

Mead (/mi:d/) is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey mixed with water, and sometimes with added ingredients such as fruits, spices, grains, or hops. The alcoholic content ranges from about 3.5% ABV to more than 18%. The defining characteristic of mead is that the majority of the beverages fermentable sugar is derived from honey. It may be still, carbonated, or naturally sparkling; dry, semi-sweet, or sweet. Wikipedia

Often associated with Viking feast halls, mead is a class of alcoholic beverage that has seen a resurgence in recent years. But the origins of mead go back much further than men in boats with funny helmets. In fact, it is believed that mead may be the oldest form of alcoholic beverage in the world, with evidence that mead was being made in ancient China as long as 9000 years ago. (Sorry beer drinkers).

Through history, mead played an important role in many cultures. The Greeks considered mead to be the Nectar of the Gods, and as such it was believed to give the drinker divine blessings such as strength, wit, and even immortality. In Viking mythology, there was a legendary drink called the Mead of Poetry that was said to make the imbiber into a scholar or poet, as it was made from the blood of a divine keeper of knowledge. And though your doctor will never give you a prescription for it, some herbal meads were used as medicine for depression, digestion and hypocondria.

Recently, mead is once again starting to gain popularity among craft producers. There are roughly 300 commercial mead producers across North America, and that doesnt count the back yard and basement mead producers. A quick search online will yield dozens of quick, easy, 10 to 15 step processes to make your own mead at home and feel like a viking. just try not to sail across the ocean and plunder England.

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Mead More Than Just The Drink of Vikings - paNOW