Mead

Mead and ancient traditions. Mead is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages in the world, and we find evidence of its use in ancient civilisations. It is believed that mead was the first drink ever made by fermentation. The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that mead was a gift from the gods and it played a significant role in mythology. Homer, the ancient Greek poet, mentions mead in his epic poem “The Odyssey” as “ambrosia”, the drink of the gods believed to grant immortality.

Mead and marriage. The tradition of the “honeymoon” comes from the ancient practice of giving newlywed couples mead to drink for a month after their wedding. This symbolised their future happiness. It was believed that drinking mead during the first month of marriage would bring the couple good luck and fertility. Today, the tradition of drinking mead during the first month of marriage has largely been forgotten, but some mead makers and honey-based beverage producers still offer mead to newlyweds for their honeymoon.

How to drink mead. Mead pairs well with a variety of foods, such as fruit, nuts and cheese. Experiment with different meads and foods to discover your personal preferences.