The history of honey wine or mead is a long one, dating back to ancient times. It has been around for so long that its exact origin is unclear. Some believe it was discovered by accident in the 14th century BC when a group of shepherds left their goats near an oak tree during harvest time. The goats ate the wild honeycomb on these trees and became intoxicated from eating this nectarous substance.
When people found out about this magical elixir created by nature, they began to combine honey with water or other liquids in order to make their own mead at home. Thus began our obsession with honey wine!
What is Honey Wine?
You might be wondering what exactly honey wine is. Honey wine is a type of mead that is made from honey and water. The yeast in the mixture converts the sugars present in the honey into alcohol, which means you will get a sweet and alcoholic beverage at the same time!
Honey wines also go by another name: mead (pronounced “med”). Meads are fermented alcoholic beverages that are made with honey as their main ingredient. Meads were especially popular during medieval times because they were easy to make–you just had to mix your ingredients together then let them sit for months until they were ready to drink!
Origin of Honey Wine
Honey wine is an alcoholic beverage made from honey and water. The oldest record of honey wine is from the Egyptian pyramids, where archaeologists have found jars containing a mixture of honey and fruit. The Ancient Greeks and Romans also made it, as did the ancient Chinese.
The oldest known recipe for mead (a specific type of honey wine) dates back 2,000 years–a monk named Bausi who lived in what is now Germany during Roman times wrote it.
Honey Wine Types & Brands
There are many different types of honey wine. The most common ones are mead, melomel (fruit mead), hydromel and metheglin.
The word “honey” can be used to describe any beverage made with honey as an ingredient. In this case, we are talking about alcoholic beverages made with fermented honey or other sugars as well as yeast and water.
Mead is an alcoholic beverage created by fermenting honey with water and yeast in a process called saccharification where the sugars from the honey can be converted into alcohol by the yeast, which then produces carbon dioxide gas bubbles that give it its fizziness!
Brands:
- Honey wine is not just a European drink. It is also enjoyed in Asia, Africa and even South America.
- If you want to try mead for yourself, here are some brands that sell it:
- Dogfish Head Brewery (USA)
- Redstone Meadery (USA)
Honey Wine Fermentation
The process of honey wine fermentation is similar to the process of making wine. The primary difference is that honey wine is made from water, honey and yeast instead of grapes or other fruits. Meads are fermented by yeast just like grape wines are; however, they are not distilled like other kinds of alcohol because they have a higher sugar content than most liquors do (hence their sweetness!). Read more about Fermented Garlic Honey…
How to Make Honey Wine
Honey wine (mead) is a sweet alcoholic beverage made from honey and water, sometimes with various fruits, spices, grains or hops added. It is one of the oldest alcoholic drinks in history. To make honey wine, you will need the following ingredients:
Ingredients:
- 1 gallon of filtered water
- 1.5 lbs. of honey (plus more for topping off)
- 1 package of yeast (or 2 if your recipe calls for it)
- 1 tsp of yeast nutrient
- crushed Campden tablet(s) and/or potassium sorbate if you are using fruit juice instead of unfermented fruit juices or juices that have been clarified and strained through cheesecloth or muslin cloth bag.
- A container (you can use pickling jars too)
Instruction:
Mead is made by fermenting a solution of honey and water. Like all fermented beverages, it contains alcohol, which can be consumed as an intoxicant or used for medicinal purposes such as antiseptic and healing wounds. This is how you make mead:
- Heat 1-gallon water to 170. Add Honey, 2 lbs. Corn Sugar, and5 tsp Yeast Nutrient. Then stir until dissolved! Bring back up to 180 and add 4 cans of Lemonade Frozen Concentrate
- Add at least 1 Gallon of FILTERED water to cool off before you transfer it into the Carboy. Let cool to room temperature then Transfer your mixture into your carboy.
- If there is any pulp/seeds/sediment. A smart thing to do is filter it out. You can ether get a screen or cheese cloth. Depending on how big your pulp/seeds/sediment determines what to use. I have a fine plastic round screen that fits into the funnel. Works well for seeds and fine pulp.
- Add (pitch) 1 packet Champagne Yeast, and add more Filtered water. Then shake/swirl to mix! There is no need to rehydrate the yeast. There is plenty of water to activate it. If you would like to rehydrate the yeast that is fine. Just do not add water to your mix until you put find out how much room to leave for the rehydrate yeast.
- The reason why it is a must that you leave room for the air is Because of the foam / bubbles that will form while fermenting. You do not want the foam to reach your air lock. It can compromise your Brew.
- It will be ready about 4 weeks to bottle!
Honey Wine Uses
Honey wine can be used in a variety of ways. As a medicinal drink, it is known for its ability to help with coughs and sore throats. Mead is also often used as an ingredient in cooking–the liquor adds sweetness and flavor to dishes like breads and cakes, while also helping them stay moist longer than they would otherwise. It is especially popular in desserts like ice cream or cheesecake!
Honey wine is also great on its own as a drink: add ice cubes for an easy summer cocktail!
Health Benefits of Mead
Honey wine is a fermented beverage made from honey, water and yeast. Mead has been around for thousands of years, with evidence suggesting that it was first discovered by the ancient people of China and then spread to other civilizations. Mead are generally considered healthier than other types of alcohol because they contain fewer calories and less sugar than wine made with grapes or grain.
Honey also contains antioxidants that help protect against free radicals in our bodies. These antioxidants are thought to reduce inflammation throughout our bodies as well as prevent conditions such as heart disease and cancer. Read more about heart healthy diet…
Medicinal Use
Honey wine (mead) is a medicinal beverage that can be used to treat colds, sore throats, coughs and flu. It can also be used to treat stomachaches and as an antiseptic for wounds. Honey mead has been used since ancient times as a remedy for many conditions including:
- Colds/flu – Use one cup of honey wine per day until you feel better
- Sore throat – Mix 1/2 teaspoon salt into 1 cup warm water then add 1 tbsp. lemon juice & drink immediately
- Stomach ache – Drink 1 cup ginger tea before bedtime
Honey wine is an ancient drink that dates back to the Bronze Age. It is made with fermented honey, water, and yeast or sourdough starter. The best part about mead is that it can be enjoyed by those who are allergic to alcohol and gluten. Honey has many health benefits and can help people detoxify their bodies while providing them with energy as well! You can read about other recipes at Liefstyle. Make sure you share your thoughts with us down in the comment section. Thank you
