Mead is thought to be one of, if not the oldest, alcoholic drinks, fermented originally using the simple ingredients of honey and water.
It is said that mead was the preferred drink of the Ancient Greek, Aristotle. Mead was believed by many to have major health benefits and it was also considered a folk medicine, due to its preservative properties. Spanish and French royalty drank mead, as did the Tudor Queen Elizabeth I, who even had her own recipe!
If you have never tried this delicious fermentation, the Great British Mead Company, who are based in Wantage, will have a stand at both the Didcot Food Festival on 5 October, and the Didcot Gift & Craft Festival on 9 November. Owner Simon Cooper has created a superb range from pure honey meads to a variety of fruit and infused meads. Mead can be compared to wine and is drunk exactly the same way. Most of their meads are dry to medium dry and contain no artificial ingredients or sulphites.
So how did the Great British Mead Company start?
In the early 1990s, Simon was taking part in a historical reenactment and was passed a bottle of mead, whilst sitting around a campfire. One taste was sufficient to set him on his journey with mead, and soon decided it was time to get some natural honey and have a go at making his own. This proved to be popular, and so he moved on to having a stall at various historical events.
The more popular the mead became, and demand increased, the more production space he needed. Great British Mead now has a large production facility in Wantage and is a supplier to a number of retail outlets across the country as well as pubs and restaurants.
Once people have tasted this wonderful natural drink, people find themselves beginning their own mead journey! It also makes an extremely popular toasting drink for weddings and celebration events, with Great British Mead even producing bespoke labels for its customers!
There are various flavours available, including:
Traditional Mead: This is a pure honey mead made with 100% raw Oxfordshire varietal honey which supports local beekeepers. Made by blending honey and water and fermenting fully, before being left to gracefully age in oak whiskey barrels, developing complex rich flavours to delight the palate.
Spiced Mead: Spiced Mead is made by pairing honey to fresh pears and oranges, which is then fermented before adding an infusion of ginger, cinnamon, clove, allspice, and black tea. This gives a wonderful aroma and spiced taste whilst ageing in oak wine barrels.
Cherry & Chocolate: Their Cherry and Chocolate Mead was created with a blend of fresh honey and juicy black cherries. Finished with an infusion in cacao nibs, this gives the drink a smooth round finish and chocolate notes.
Strawberry and Chilli: The Strawberry Mead is infused with fresh chilli which lifts the aroma and taste of the fruit. Delicious served chilled, on a warm Summer's evening paired with cheese and biscuits
Blackberry Mead: A Melomel or fruit mead, made with honey and blackberries, which add natural colour and flavour. A smooth drink with a pleasant, sweet character and nose.
Hawthorn and Rosehip Mead: This is a mead made by creating a syrup made from freshly gathered Rosehips and Hawthorn berries in the Autumn and blending it with honey. A metheglin or herbal mead, it retains all the wonderful benefits of the honey, berries and hips.
Mead was traditionally served in horn-drinking vessels. Great British Mead sells a range of horn-drinking vessels, produced by Abbeyhorn in the UK. These will also be available to purchase from their stand at both events.
Book your advance tickets for the Didcot Food Festival which cost just £4 for adults and children under 16 free (accompanied by an adult), £5 on the day. Tickets for the Gift & Craft Festival are £1.50 for adults, children under 16 are free when accompanied by an adult. You can buy your tickets at didcotevents.co.uk.
Book your advance tickets for the Didcot Food Festival which cost just £4 for adults and children under 16 free (accompanied by an adult), £5 on the day. Tickets for the Gift & Craft Festival are £1.50 for adults, children under 16 are free when accompanied by an adult. You can buy your tickets at didcotevents.co.uk.
For further information about the Great British Mead Company visit greatbritishmead.com | Facebook.com/GreatBritishMeadCo
