Benefits of Mead: Is Mead a (2024)

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Benefits of Mead: Is Mead a? ›

This article discusses mead, an ancient alcoholic beverage made from fermented honey. Often referred to as the 'nectar of the gods,' mead has a rich history and potential health benefits. It contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties derived from honey, promotes cardiovascular health, and reduces stress.

There are no clinically proven health benefits to mead. Historically, though, mead has been believed to be healthy to both drink as well as to make into healing tonics. The mead of preference was one infused with spices or herbs, using the sweet drink to mask some other flavors.

Some types of mead are fermented to a point that preserves live yeasts and beneficial bacteria. These probiotics can be good for gut health, aiding in digestion and even improving the immune system.

The reason for mead no longer being popular comes down to simple economics. It's just more expensive to produce compared to beer or wine. As with many things in life, things that are easier are more likely to happen. Perhaps some day we'll see a mead renaissance.

​Metheglin is mead made with herbs and or spices. The word 'medicine' likely derives from this word. For many centuries, mead infused with herbs or spices was a common remedy for colds and ailments. Common spices include cinnamon, rosemary, nutmeg, clove, ginger, allspice, thyme, and hyssop.

Often referred to as the 'nectar of the gods,' mead has a rich history and potential health benefits. It contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties derived from honey, promotes cardiovascular health, and reduces stress. However, moderation is important due to potential health risks.

The Bottom Line. Mead is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented honey. Due to its honey and potential probiotic content, it's touted as offering various health benefits, but scientific evidence to back up these claims is lacking. Additionally, its alcohol content may negate benefits and, in fact, cause health issues ...

Generally, mead is known for its probiotic content. Probiotics are good bacteria that can have a positive effect on your immune system and digestive health. Research indicates that these bacteria can help prevent and treat chronic illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, allergies and gastrointestinal illnesses.

Do you drink mead cold or warm? It's really up to your preferences, but cold and warm will bring out different flavors in the mead. If the mead is sparkling, we recommend drinking at 45 degrees (refrigerator temperature) so it doesn't overfoam.

If you are drinking your mead warmed up, we would recommend around 50ml of mead in a whisky glass. If you are drinking it cool, we would say between 100 – 125ml, mirroring a traditional small glass of wine serving.

Why did Vikings drink so much mead? ›

Lighter alcohol drinks (like light beer) were used in place of water as it was less likely to make people sick. Why did Vikings drink so much mead? It quenched the Viking thirst! Viking food was thought to be incredibly salty, as salt was used as a preservative and to ward off bacteria.

If so, possible problems are: mead is too high a gravity for the yeast, pH is too low for the yeast, or sanitizers, preservatives or other yeast-killing/inhibiting substances are present. Prolonged, slow fermentation. Probably has insufficient nutrients. People used to think this was normal; it's not.

Because it doesn't really fit neatly into any current category of American alcohol, it's tough for many pubs and liqueur stores to obtain permission to sell it.

Since it consists of quite a bit of alcohol, you can store a classic mead in the pantry even after uncorking. It's okay to keep the mead in there as long as the bottle has been resealed tightly. However, to retain the quality of your mead for longer, we recommend storing it in the fridge.

For example, unopened classic mead can last for 5 years, while unopened lighter meads usually last 1-2 years. Once opened, however, mead's shelf-life decreases, especially for lighter meads. It is usually recommended to consume lighter mead within 24 hours of opening.

Because honey is way more expensive than barley and hops. It is also way more alcoholic than almost all beers, and many countries charge an alcohol duty based on the percentage of alcohol in the beverage.

Two ounces of mead can contain over 300 calories and 40 grams of carbohydrates. An 8.1 oz serving of mead contains 356 calories. To burn these 356 calories, you must cycle for 54 minutes and run for 36 minutes. Meads will taste better with additional flavors.

Maturing mead over time enables desirable flavors to meld and evolve, allowing harsh flavors to diminish. The Mead maker can age before bottling in carboys, barrels, or bottles. Consumers may age in the bottle. Commercially made meads are generally ready to be enjoyed when released.

It quenched the thirst after the salty Viking food had been eaten. The Vikings drank strong beer at festive occasions, together with the popular drink of mead. Mead was a sweet, fermented drink made from honey, water and spices. Wine made from grapes was also known of, but had to be imported, from France, for example.