The primary alcoholic beverages of the Vikings were mead and beer. Like all meads, Viking mead was made from honey. Beer was an ale made from barley, sometimes flavored with hops.
Summary
ToggleThe only other alcoholic drink that the Vikings made themselves was fruit wine, which came from various fruits that grew in their land. Since the Vikings hadn’t learned to distill alcohol, these fruit wines were the strongest locally produced drinks. True wine (i.e., made from grapes) came from abroad, primarily from the Rhineland, and was an expensive luxury that only the rich could afford.
Beer and mead were typically served in drinking horns made from cattle horns. Since a horn could not be placed down while still containing a drink, its contents had to be emptied fairly quickly or passed around the table. When the Vikings wanted to set their drinks down and sip here and there during a meal, they used wooden cups rather than drinking horns. True southern wine was served in more refined containers—often pottery jugs or imported glass cups, or locally made silver bowls.
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What is Viking Mead ?
One of the oldest alcoholic concoctions in the world, mead is a combination of fermented water and honey. Spices, fruits, grains, and hops may be added to create various flavors.
Viking mead would probably have been more diluted (4 to 8% alcohol), made with more water than honey, due to the resources available to the Vikings. Despite its ancient roots, it almost certainly survived through the Middle Ages.
Mead Variations by Language:
Old English: medu, meodu
Old Norse: mjöð
Danish: Mjød
The Vikings and Alcohol :
We are well aware of the Vikings’ propensity for drinking. And since they spent many days battling the elements of Mother Nature, it is only fair to assume that alcohol provided them with the warmth they needed.
The Vikings brewed their own beer, mead, and wine. Mead, however (often considered a drink of royalty), was likely reserved for special occasions.
Viking Mead :
So, what’s the link ? Take a part of the history of mead and a part of the Vikings’ drinking habits, mix them, and you get Viking mead.
It is also worth noting that this drink was probably produced at different quality levels. The Vikings were well-versed in beekeeping practices. They would gather pure honey by placing the combs of a hive into a cloth bag and letting them drain. Then, to avoid waste, they would take the drained combs and crush them (along with the hive) in water.
Pure honey, once extracted, produced the highest quality mead, while the crushed hive produced something of lesser value. Both were consumed, regardless of social class.
Viking Mead Recipe : The Nectar of the Nordic Gods
Mead, this fermented honey drink, was an iconic beverage in Viking culture. It was often associated with celebrations, festivities, and offerings to the gods. In this recipe, we will guide you through the steps to create your own Viking mead, a sweet nectar that will transport you directly to the Viking Age.
Ingredients
- 3.8 liters of water
- 1.8 kg of honey (preferably raw honey)
- 1 untreated lemon (zest and juice)
- 1 untreated orange (zest and juice)
- 5 cloves
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 packet of wine yeast or beer yeast
- 1 fermentation vessel (glass or plastic)
- 1 airlock
- 1 siphon (optional)
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Steps
Prepare the Base Mixture:
In a large pot, bring 1.9 liters of water to a boil.
Remove the pot from the heat and add the honey. Stir thoroughly until the honey is completely dissolved.
Add the zest and juice of the lemon and orange, the cloves, and the cinnamon stick.
Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature.
Transfer to the Fermentation Vessel:
Once the mixture has cooled, transfer it to the fermentation vessel.
Add the Yeast:
Sprinkle the yeast over the top of the mixture in the fermentation vessel. Do not stir, just let the yeast rest on the surface.
Fermentation:
Seal the fermentation vessel with a cap equipped with an airlock.
Place the vessel in a cool, dark place, ideally at a constant temperature of around 18°C to 21°C.
Allow it to ferment for at least one week. You will know the fermentation is complete when the airlock stops releasing gas bubbles.
Transfer to Bottles:
Once fermentation is complete, transfer the mead into bottles using a siphon to avoid transferring sediment into the bottles. You may add a small amount of extra honey to slightly sweeten the mead, depending on your taste.
Aging:
Seal the bottles with airtight caps and allow the mead to age for at least six months in a cool, dark place. The longer it ages, the more complex and flavorful it will become.
Tasting:
Once the mead has aged, serve it chilled in traditional mead cups or wine glasses. Vikings often enjoyed it during grand festivities.
Tips and Tricks
- Make sure all utensils and equipment used are clean and sterilized to prevent any undesirable contamination of the yeast.
- You can adjust the amount of honey to your preference for a sweeter or less sweet mead.
- The choice of honey is important. Darker honeys will yield a richer flavor, while lighter honeys will give a milder mead.
- Be patient. Mead requires time to fully develop its flavors, so don’t rush to taste it.
- Feel free to experiment by adding other spices or herbs to customize your mead.
Viking mead is more than just a drink. It transports enthusiasts of this culture into the past, reminding them of the Viking Age, their celebrations, and offerings to the gods. By making your own Viking mead, you honor this tradition while enjoying a sweet, flavorful nectar that has withstood the test of time. Cheers to you and your Viking adventures!
Conclusion
Today, thanks to the resurgence of interest in Viking culture, mead continues to captivate enthusiasts of craft beverages and history. You can now make your own mead, thus honoring the Viking tradition while exploring a unique tasting experience.
Mead is more than just a drink: it is a link to the past, a celebration of Viking life, and a tribute to the Nordic gods. As you enjoy this sweet, flavorful beverage, imagine the lively feasts of the Vikings, their epic tales, and their celebrations under the Nordic sky. Whether shared during festive gatherings or savored in solitude, mead remains an invitation to travel back in time and celebrate the Viking heritage. Skål!