Mead - Nectar of the Gods
It probably comes as no surprise that during an alcohol fuelled discussion at our local pub on New Years Eve, we got talking about the increase in popularity of craft beers and the abundance of fruit combination ciders.
It was when the conversation moved to sharing our own home brewing experiences, that I was intrigued by a friend’s production of mead, which they had recently bottled.
Having now been gifted several bottles to try, I think I am a convert!
So what is mead?
Having faded into the background of the alcoholic beverage market, mead may very well be the world's oldest, tracing back to 6,500 to 7,000 B.C. Known as a drink of ancient kings and royalty, mead was considered by Grecians of the Golden Age to be the ‘Ambrosia’ or 'Nectar of the Gods’.
Principally mead is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey mixed with water. In the main it tastes like a medium sweet wine, with a similar texture to sherry but with the distinct tone of honey. It’s often blended with berries and spices to provide a variety of flavour combinations.
The alcoholic content ranges from about 3.5% to more than 20%, where the majority of its fermentable sugar is derived from honey.
Are there health benefits?
As honey has long been recognised as a natural antiseptic and for its antibacterial qualities, mead has been widely credited for having nutritional benefits and medicinal qualities. And due to its honey content, which is easier for the body to metabolise, mead is generally considered healthier than beer and wine.
Is mead making a comeback?
In the main, mead would tend to be found at Renaissance fairs and heritage events as more of a novelty drink. However, with the increasing appetite for local craft beverages such as beer, cider and wine and spirits like gin and vodka, we’re starting to see renewed curiosity in mead.
We could indeed be set to see a return to the mainstream of this ancient beverage as interest grows and it starts to turn up in independent pubs and artisan bars, produced by small local crafters.
We think it is indeed a most appetising alcoholic drink and like with many other craft beverages, mead is worthy of reclaiming it’s own status amongst the more saturated markets of its alcoholic siblings.
Is there potential for British craft mead?
At Marvelwood we believe in authenticity and integrity, placing the attributes of nature, heritage and wellbeing at the forefront of everything we do. What’s more, we believe wholeheartedly in the craft market, favouring goods made by small artisan producers, over goods produced by global faceless factories, so it’s no surprise that mead captures our interest.
The British are famed for their bee keeping, producing some of the worlds best honey, from the abundance of flora in our gardens and wild hedgerows.
With the resurgence of interest in British craft and the preservation of heritage trades, we couldn’t be better placed to drive the reemergence of mead and own our place at the head of the dining tables, restaurants and pubs of the mead beverage market.