The Origins and Delights of Mead

Have you ever wondered where the term "honeymoon" comes from? Allow me to enlighten you with a delightful historical tidbit. In the Middle Ages, when a young couple got married, their family would present them with a "moon," which was essentially a month's worth of honey mead. The newlyweds would then set off on their honeymoon, frolic, and make merry for a few weeks, hoping to return with a bun in the oven. But fear not, today we're not making a baby, but rather, we'll be delving into the world of alcoholic honey mead. So whether you imagine yourself as a Saxon warrior in your shield wall or a marauding Norse Viking, get ready for the sweet, sweet taste of mead.

Welcome to Tasting History! Before we embark on our mead-making adventure, I want to clarify that this article is for informative purposes only and not a guide to making mead. Also, if you're new here, remember to check out the merchandise below and consider subscribing for more content. Now, let's dive into the 13th-century Tractus Manuscript Folio 20r, which holds the recipe for our mead-making journey.

The ancient recipe calls for one gallon of fine honey dissolved in four gallons of water, heated until it reaches a certain temperature, and then boiled while skimming off any impurities. After boiling, the mixture is allowed to cool until it reaches the temperature of fresh cow's milk. Next, the finest ale dregs or barm are added, and everything is stirred together before being left to stand for three days and nights. Finally, the mead is drawn from the dregs, transferred to another vessel, and served forth.

You might notice that this mead-making process differs from the traditional method used by contemporary mead makers. Normally, mead ferments for weeks and ages for months. However, the 13th-century recipe suggests a quick fermentation process, perhaps due to the limited resources and brewing techniques of the time.

The recipe also offers instructions on how to create "eglyn," a mead infused with various herbs such as hyssop, bettony, moonwort, heartstongue, and white horehound. Eglyn, a shortened version of "meddyglyn" (meaning healing mead), highlights the medicinal use of herbs in mead-making during the Middle Ages.

As we explore the rich history of mead, we discover that its origins date back thousands of years. The earliest evidence of mead-making comes from pottery found in northern China around 7000 BC. Throughout history, various cultures have embraced mead, attributing it to goddesses, using priestesses named "Melissa" (meaning bee), and employing mead for religious and social ceremonies.

In Norse mythology, mead played a significant role, with tales of its origin involving the brilliant poet-god, Kvasir. Norse gods and humans alike sought the knowledge and inspiration that came from the "Mead of Poetry." The love for mead spread from the Minoans to the Greeks and Romans, eventually finding its way to Britannia and Ireland, where mead halls became central to their culture.

Mead continues to be celebrated in various forms across the world, with different names for the different kinds of mead depending on their ingredients, alcohol content, and honey concentration.

For our mead-making adventure, we use water, honey, and ale dregs or dried ale yeast. The recipe calls for four gallons of water and one gallon of honey, but we make a smaller batch using a quart of honey and one gallon of water. The yeast amount might vary, so it's best to test its activity before adding it to the mixture.

Once the mead is prepared, it goes through a quick fermentation process, lasting just three days. After that, it is transferred to another container and aged for a couple of nights. If aged for a longer period, the mead would become clearer and develop a rich golden hue.

Throughout history, mead has been enjoyed by various cultures, often accompanied by songs and tales of valor and bravery. It has inspired poets, writers, and artists, and has earned its place as a beloved beverage of the ages.

Now, as you savor the taste of your homemade mead, whether it's sparkling or flat, sweet or dry, remember the ancient traditions and the vibrant stories that this delightful drink carries with it. So raise your glass, and let's toast to the timeless legacy of mead! Cheers!