Understand how one of the oldest drinks in history became popular and what its characteristics are
Mead the is an ancient drink that has been present since very early in human history and is probably oldest alcoholic drink in the world . this drink already
it circulated throughout the planet and passed through almost all civilizations: from the philosophers of Ancient Greece to the Mayan warriors. Today, the alcoholic beverages market, dominated mainly by beers and craft products, has been making room for mead. Every day, dozens of manufacturers and stores appear in Brazil, bringing a boost to this market thanks to growing demand.
Mead has been popular especially among millennials, who are attracted to discovering new things. And, in fact, despite mead dating back more than 9,000 years, it is still known to the general public. Below we leave everything you need to know to get to know and start exploring this vast universe of mead.
Original mead
Even today, the information corresponding to the exact place and date of origin of the mead is uncertain. However, many studies and research indicate that, probably, the first nation to produce the drink was India, around 300 BC mead also remained quite popular in Greece, which named the liquid “Melikraton”, a priori.
In addition to India and Greece, the drink also became widely consumed in China and Egypt very quickly. Thanks to the constant interactions between the different civilizations of the time, such as trade and invasions, mead soon became popular throughout the world, reaching even the Celts , Saxons , Romans and, of course, the Vikings .
The Norse had a great influence on the spread of mead , as they drank it with horns during events and gatherings. A legend that appeared in Norse mythology said that mead came from a wise man blessed by the gods, who, during his death, had his blood mixed with honey, creating a magical drink that transmitted wisdom to whoever drank it.
Each culture created its own version of the origin of mead, and there are not enough facts to point out which, in fact, is true. Despite this, all the stories, mythological or not, about the drink helped to popularize it, contributing to it becoming one of the most famous drinks in history today.
WHAT IS HYDROMEL AND HOW TO MAKE IT
Mead . , like many other alcoholic beverages, is a fermented beverage It is believed that, in the past, when there was no knowledge about the fermentation processes, mead was made by dissolving honey in water, which was stored in vessels and fermented naturally by yeasts that exist in the air and in the honey itself.
Nowadays, mead is a drink made in a staggered and standardized way. Basically, the beverage manufacturing process consists of transforming the sugar present in honey into alcohol , and has the following basic ingredients:
- Water ;
- Honey ;
- yeast ;
- flavorings .
The preparation is carried out by mixing honey with water to dissolve it. Furthermore, yeasts are added to the equation to ferment the drink and generate alcohol. Mead’s ABV – that is, its alcohol content – can vary greatly depending on the manufacturer, ranging from 4% to 15%.
Mead in Brazil
There are several brands of mead in Brazil today. However, this scenario is a recent result of the drink’s dissemination in the cultural and pop world; Until 2012, it was not easy to find mead in any alcoholic beverage store.
With this in mind, below are some of the national mead brands present in the alcoholic market. most famous
ARVEN MEAD
The Legacy is one of the country’s leading mead brands . Based in Campinas, in the interior of São Paulo, it was founded in 2015. Since then, it has been bringing its own examples of the drink, with creative variations and a footprint that recalls the full weight of the ancient history of mead. .
HONEY PRINCE
situated in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Príncipe Querido started with a home production scheme, aimed only at friends and family, in 2015. Then, in 2018, it began its activities as a beverage distributor and mead manufacturer.
Prince Honey brings with its brand all the family appreciation that has existed since the beginning of its production, like something homemade.
DAMON BREW
Demônio . was also founded in 2018, in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. Initially, its production was exclusively focused on the brand’s city of origin However, recently in 2020, it began distributing its doses of canned mead to all parents.
Ethereal Mead
Hidromel etéreo had its first label launched in 2016, and today it is one of the most recognized brands on the market and one of the most awarded , too. the brand aims to bring sophistication and variety to the drink, creating, from water and honey, mixtures that suit all situations.
5 CURIOSITIES ABOUT MEAD
As a drink that has lasted hundreds of years and is present in practically all cultures, mead has marked in its legacy several curiosities and even myths relating to its origin, composition and meaning. Below are five of the main curiosities gathered in this article.
1 – AN INSPIRATION FROM “HOONEY’S MOON”
Yes, that’s exactly it! Mead is behind the famous term: “Honeymoon” . This happened within the cultures of the Celts, Vikings and Saxons, who had the tradition that all bride and groom should consume the drink during the complete lunar cycle that followed the wedding. This way, the couple’s first child would be born a man.
two – DIVINE WISDOM
Some cultures and peoples, such as the Vikings, believed and created myths about mead being able to bring healing properties, wisdom , intelligence and ease in Art , poetry and longevity. Furthermore, the Greeks called mead “Nectar of the Gods” , believing that the drink had healing power.
3 – MEDICINAL mead
In the past, especially in England, it was common for doctors and healers to prescribe mead mixed with herbs . It was believed that this mixture could help with digestion, emotional problems and hypochondria.
4 – Mead IS ALSO A VARIETY
Although mead is basically made from water and honey, there are several variations of the drink, created by hand. See some examples:
- Melomel : mead with fruits such as blackberries;
- Braggot : mixture of mead and beer;
- Cyser : mead with addition of apple during fermentation;
- Rodomelo : mead style decorated with petals.
Of course, there is much more to be explored in the world of mead, so we focused on bringing the main characteristics of the drink in this article and we hope that you enjoyed and were interested in this interesting drink.
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