History of Mead
A history of mead.
Mead is probably the oldest known alcoholic beverage in
the world. From Europe to Australia mead has been a popular drink, dating
back to long before Viking Times. One of the earliest references to mead
can be found in the Hindu's of India's holy books, the Veda books, which
date back 4000 years and possibly even earlier than that.
In the Veda writings can be found a chapter in which
the gods Krishna an Indra are called "Madhava", which means "born of
honey", and their symbol is a bee. It is also written in this holy book,
that there is a source of mead flowing on the third step of Vishnu's -
which is heaven.
Mead is also referred to in Greek literature, in the
saga of Orfeus: Zeus gave Kronos mead to make him drunk, "because they did
not have wine at that time". Not surprisingly, mead is often referred to
as "a drink fit for the gods". The Northern god Odin acquired mead by
spending three nights with the daughter of the dwarf Suttung, so that he
may be permitted to taste this excellent beverage. However, Odin did not
just taste the mead offered him - no, he emptied the casks completely in
three thirsty mouthfuls and then promptly raced back to the halls of
Valhalla. The mead stolen by Odin was brewed from the blood of the wise
Kvasir, and gave special powers for skaldic poetry and great wisdom. This
myth has stayed with mead since - however, the special powers can be
somewhat blurred by over indulgence. Reliable sources report, that anybody
that gets drunk on mead, can be effected for up to three whole days!
The Northern gods had a most splendid supplier of mead - one, which we in our brewery cannot compete with, and that was a goat called Heidrun. Heidrun grassed on top of the roof of Valhalla, and her udder flowed with unlimited supplies of the most delicious mead.
When the Romans invaded Britain they discovered that they had conquered
"an island of honey". Plutarch was amazed at the sound health and energy
of the natives. "These Britains begin first to be old when they are 120
years. Their secret being honey."
There are numerous myths surrounding mead and its
attributions, likewise there are considerable facts surrounding the most
positive "side effect" of drinking mead. For example, mead is brewed from
the purest honey, which is said to be able to help those suffering from
arthritis, rheumatism and kidney disorders, to name but a few. The book
"Honey and Your Health" by Beck and Smedley, can give further details.
A long life should also be a "side effect" of mead
drinking. A survey carried out in the former Soviet Union reported, that
most of the 200 people between the ages of 110 - 150 years were former
bee-keepers, who consumed large quantities of their own products.
The oldest known recipe for mead to be written down in
the Nordic countries was in 1520 by the Archbishop Olaus Magnus. The
recipe comprised of water, honey, hops and brewers yeast, and concludes,
that "on the eight day - or earlier in emergencies - the mead may be
drunk, but the longer it is left, the purer, better and healthier it will
be."
Our products are brewed based on a recipe from about year 1700, and the ingredients are pure and 100 pct. natural - guaranteed free from additives of any kind. Honey is the major and most important item in the recipe.
he history of Mead is as long and rich and captivating as the beverage itself. Mead is thought to be the oldest alcoholic beverages know to man. It was most likely discovered quite by accident, when some thirsty hunter-gathers discovered an upturned beehive, filled up with rainwater. They drank the sweet water completely unaware of what fermentation and alcohol were and experienced the first intoxication. In a quest to replicate this experience the art of mead-making was begun. Unfortunately, fermentation was not understood until the mid 1800’s. Consequently, two things occurred: First, fermentation was very unpredictable. And second, fermentation took on mystical and religious qualities.
The ancient Greeks called mead, Ambrosia, or Nectar (click Here for more about ancient names and varietals). It was believed to be the drink of the gods, and was thought to descend from the Heavens as dew, before being gathered in by the bees. Because of the believed ties to the gods, it is easy to see why the ancient Greeks believed mead to have magical and sacred properties. The Greeks believed that mead would prolong life, and bestow health, strength, virility, re-creative powers, wit and poetry. The bees themselves, we are told by Virgil’s Georgics are driven to the sky to honor the goddess Aphrodite. And, the prophetess’ at Delphi are suspected of drinking mead made from a honey from slightly toxic plants in order to induce their prophetic states, and visions of the future.
Mead declined in production in the south of Europe, where grapes were discovered as a less expensive, more predictable source of wine production. But, in the north where vine fruits were less available the popularity of mead continued. In Norse/Aryan mythology a draught of mead, delivered by the beautiful divine maidens, was the reward for warriors that reached Valhalla. And, the Norse god of poetry, Brage, is said to have drunk mead from a Brage-beaker, later called the bragging cup. While the great Norse god, Odin, was said to have gained his strength but suckling Mead from a goats’ udder as an infant. Celtic mythology tells of a river of mead running through paradise, while the Anglo-Saxon culture held mead up as the bestower of immortality, poetry and knowledge. In fact the mythology of mead exists in our culture today, unnoticed by most. The very term “honeymoon” comes from the ancient tradition of giving bridal couples a moons worth of honey-wine. This was long ago thought to ensure a fruitful union. In fact the payment to the meadmaker was often increased, dependent on the promptness and the male-gender of the first-born child.
Bees were thought, by most European cultures, to be the messengers of the gods. Therefore, even as mead production declined it was still used for the temples rites, and the grand ceremonies, while ales were used for every day life. The same mystic properties that kept mead in the temples, made mead a natural adjunct to early ideas of western medicine. In England there were a number of meads, flavored with specific herbs that were used to cure any number of ailments. For example, mead made with balm was thought to aid digestion and expel melancholy, and mead made with borage was used to revive hypochondriacs and the chronically ill. The name for these spiced meads is Metheglin, and comes for the Welsh word “medcyglin”, meaning medicine.
The middle ages took mead to different heights. The stature afforded to mead can be seen in the fact that the King’s mead cellar was under the direct care of the Steward of the household, who was the chief officer of the court. And, payment for meadmakers was as high as one third of the mead made for the customer. Unfortunately, during this same time the demand by the church for bees wax candles helped the decline of mead-making by creating an economic incentive to rob the bee hives of their honey laden wax.
The tapestry of mead history is rich and wonderful. References are littered throughout history and literature. Chaucer speaks of making Claret sweeter with the addition of honey. In 1771 Smollett writes that knowledge of mead-making is considered one of the arts of a true country gentleman. Queen Elizabeth was known to have her own favorite recipe, including rosemary, bay leaves, sweet briar and thyme. But perhaps Howell, Clerk to the Privy Council, said it best in 1640 when he wrote, “The juice of bees, not Bacchus, here behold, Which British Bards were wont to quaff of old; The berries of the grape with Furies swell, But in the honey comb the Graces dwell.”