What Is Mead? The Ancient Drink Making a Modern Comeback

Mead Basics
Written By Simon Bultman

Introduction

If you’ve heard the word mead and wondered what it is, you’re not alone. Mead is one of the oldest known alcoholic drinks, yet it’s still unfamiliar to many Australians. At White Morph Mead, we’re re-imagining this ancient beverage for modern tastes.

What Is Mead?

Mead is an alcoholic drink made by fermenting honey with water and yeast. Sometimes called “honey wine,” it’s unique because honey is the main fermentable sugar. In beer brewing the sugar comes from malted barley and wheat, in wine making it comes from grapes and in cider it comes from apples. So mead is in its own category.

  • Want more quick answers? Visit our Mead FAQ

A Very Brief History of Mead

Mead has been enjoyed for thousands of years across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Archaeological evidence of mead has been found dating back to around 7000BCE! From Viking feasts to ancient Chinese ceremonies, it has deep historical roots but mead has also found a place in modern fiction too, especially in fantasy novels and re-tellings of ancient myths. Today, mead is making a comeback among craft drinkers who enjoy cider, natural wines, and small-batch beer.

What Does Mead Taste Like?

The flavour of mead depends on many things including:

  • Honey type - Tasmanian Prickly Box honey gives ours a light floral complexity, but there are many, many varieties of honey.

  • Yeast type - yeast produce unique flavour and aroma compounds and there are literally hundreds of different yeast varieties to choose from!

  • Mead style - what is the mead maker aiming to achieve? Eg. Will the mead be dry or sweet, still or sparkling?

  • Added ingredients - hops, fruits, or spices can dramatically affect the flavour of the mead.

At White Morph Mead, our meads are dry, crisp, and refreshing — closer to a cider or craft beer than a sweet dessert wine while still being distinctly mead.

How Do You Serve Mead?

  • It’s best to follow the serving suggestions that the mead maker has printed on the bottle or can.

  • Sparkling styles are generally best served chilled, like cider and beer, and are especially refreshing on a warm day.

  • Just like with wine and beer, choose a glass that allows for the full appreciation of the aromas of the mead. A red wine glass is a good option for serving mead.

  • It depends on the style of mead but it can pair well with cheese platters, seafood, spicy food, and light salads.

  • Pair dinner with a can of Dry Hopped Mead

Why White Morph Mead?

We craft our meads in small batches using Tasmanian Prickly Box honey, a beautiful honey prized for light butterscotch and floral flavours. With over 20 years of fermentation experience, we’re committed to making mead that’s modern, drinkable, and distinctly Tasmanian.

Final Thoughts

So, what is mead? While it’s one of the oldest drinks in the world mead is again gaining a following among craft drinkers. Crisp, refreshing, gluten free, and proudly crafted in Australia, White Morph Mead is your opportunity to try something new.

Simon Bultman