In a nutshell, Mead is a fermented alcoholic beverage made from honey and water. Although commonly called “honey wine”, it isn’t, instead it has its own unique category. And it has quite a history. Production of fermented honey is the oldest known alcohol to man, and contrary to its connection to the Vikings, the first discovery was in Northern China. Its popularity grew though Ancient Greece and throughout Scandinavia where it was used as a cooking staple along with being a beverage choice. In early England, mead was infused with herbs and spices to be used for medicinal purposes.

Thankfully, modernization has greatly improved the quality of mead.  And today, you can find well-made meads anywhere bees can be found. It is even experiencing its own craft movement with now over 500 meaderies in the US alone. It is also a gluten-free product.

If you find yourself mead-curious, here are a few to try: