It is well known, the favorite drink of the Vikings is mead . Great lovers of alcoholic beverages , the warriors of the north, in addition to importing their wine, brewed their own beer . Mead was mainly drunk during rituals or feasts . And today, what is undoubtedly one of the oldest alcoholic beverages, is on the rise. But then what is it, what is its story and how to make it yourself?
A little history of mead, the Viking drink par excellence
Mead (mjöðr in Old Norse) is arguably one of the oldest alcoholic beverages in the world. If it is still impossible to know its exact origin, certain archaeological evidence proves its presence in Europe and Asia . And this more than 10,000 years ago.
What is mead?
Mead is therefore an alcoholic beverage. It can be sweet or strong, containing between 8% and 20% alcohol . To obtain this mythical drink, it is necessary to ferment honey, water and yeast . Then, to add more flavor, simply add herbs or spices, fruits or grains. The most common fruits used in mead were: raspberry, cherry, mulberry, strawberry, hawthorn berry, elderberry.
Did the Vikings really drink mead?
The Vikings were genuine mead lovers . Contrary to what may be said or shown in the various television series, films or literary works, Norse warriors did not abuse it on a daily basis either. Mead was mainly taken out during rituals or feasts . In short, on specific occasions.
Vikings made their own mead themselves . They were indeed gifted in beekeeping and had their hives , and therefore their honey . As for the flavors added to the drink, they depend on both the region and the seasons. Depending, the Vikings could add herbs, fruits or spices.
How to make your own Viking mead (recipe)?
Making your own mead is not very rocket science and can be within the reach of all amateurs. There are dozens of very different recipes. We slip you one right here:
Equipment and ingredients for 3.5 liters of mead
- 2.5 liters of sterile water
- 1kg of honey
- 2 tbsp. tablespoon yeast for mead
- 10 grams of ginger
- 4 cloves
- A pot
- A bucket or a Dame Jeanne
-
Bottles
Attention, before starting, the equipment must be sterilized. The best way to do this is to get a disinfectant solution directly from a beer or wine shop.
- In a large pot, pour the honey and bring it to a boil . Skim as needed.
- In this same pot, then pour 2.5 liters of water and mix while bringing everything to a boil. Cook until a quarter of the liquid has evaporated. Then let cool to room temperature.
- Pour the mixture into a fermentation bucket or a Dame Jeanne, then stir in the yeast .
- Add the cloves and ginger , previously crushed and put in a fabric bag (tea bag style). Leave the liquid to stand for 2 days in the fermentation tank with the spice sachet. Remove the sachet after 48 hours.
- Let the liquid ferment for up to 6 months , at a temperature between 18° and 24°c.
- Transfer everything into bottles… and enjoy!
Pay attention to the choice of ingredients
The ingredients and their quantity depends on the desired result. The main ingredient of mead is indeed honey. To obtain a slightly bitter drink, it is wise to use chestnut honey . The mead will therefore be quite dark and quite strong. For a softer drink, we prefer clear honeys.
On the same principle, for a more mellow and syrupy mead, the quantity of honey added at the start will be greater. The less there will be honey, the more type of drink will be dry.
Regarding the choice of yeast: it is advisable to take a Chablis yeast if you want a dry mead and a Sauternes yeast for a sweet mead. At some manufacturers, however, it is quite possible to obtain mead yeast directly.
With the arrival of series such as "Game of Thrones" and " Vikings ", but also after the success of fantastic medieval films such as "Harry Potter", "The Lord of the Rings" and even "Narnia", mead has the booming for ten years. Between 2013 and 2014, sales of the drink even increased by almost 50% in the United States . So now that you know a little bit more about mead, it's time to hit the kitchen and make a beautiful local mead design!
In order to serve you your mead, consider getting your own Viking mug or horn from our shop.
