The History of Mead
The history of Mead is as long, rich and captivating as the delicious beverage itself. Mead is considered the oldest alcoholic beverages known to man. The ancient Greeks called mead, Ambrosia, it was thought to be the drink of the Gods. They believed that mead prolonged life, and bestowed health, strength, virility, re-creative powers, wit and poetry.

Mead suffered declines in production in the south of Europe, where grapes were discovered and were a less expensive option. They were also a far more predictable source of alcohol production in the form of wine. In the north however, where vine fruits were difficult to grow and less available, the popularity of mead continued. In Norse mythology a draught of mead, delivered by the Valkyries, was the reward for warriors that reached Valhalla. While Odin, was said to have gained his strength by suckling Mead from a goat’s udder as an infant.

Later in England there were a number of meads, flavoured with specific herbs that were used to cure a number of ailments. 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. This makes some sense medically as honey has many well known restorative properties and alcohol is a used often as a steriliser. The use of mead as a medicine is more likely to relate to the association mead had with the Gods than for any true medicinal purpose. The middle ages saw mead taken to different heights. The stature afforded to mead is seen by the fact that the King’s mead cellar was taken care of directly by the Steward of the household, the chief officer of the court.

The tapestry that is mead history is long and wonderful. References are littered throughout history and literature. From Aristotle to Chaucer, mead was always held in high regard. Queen Elizabeth was known to have her own favourite recipe, including rosemary, bay leaves, sweet briar and thyme. Mead is a rich and wondrous drink that has a history of reverence and adoration throughout society.