Mead

Mead is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey and water, sometimes with yeast and added fruit, herbs, or spices.

Mead is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey and water, sometimes with yeast and added fruit, herbs, or spices. It is often called “honey wine,” though it is a distinct fermented drink rather than a grape wine. Mead has a long history in Europe, Africa, and Asia and is widely regarded as one of the oldest alcoholic beverages.

Definition and production

Mead is a fermented beverage whose sugar source is honey rather than grapes or grains. Yeast may be added to speed fermentation, and many styles include fruit, herbs, or spices.

History

Mead has been produced in ancient times across Europe, Africa, and Asia. It is often described as one of the oldest alcoholic beverages, with early evidence of fermented honey drinks in China.

Styles and variations

Mead can range from dry to sweet and from still to sparkling. Specific forms include spiced mead, known as metheglin, and other flavored variations made with fruit or herbs.

Cultural significance

Mead appears in the mythology and traditions of several peoples and has often been associated with special or supernatural qualities. In some cultures it was regarded as a prestigious or ritual drink.

Mead in Canada

Mead is produced and sold in Canada as part of the country’s craft beverage sector, and Canadian readers may encounter it in specialty breweries, meaderies, and historical or cultural discussions of fermented drinks.