Yule Mead
Embrace the warmth of the holiday season with this aromatic Spiced Mead. Infused with rich orange blossom honey, a blend of warming spices, and fresh citrus, each sip offers a cozy comfort perfect for festive gatherings. This mead is not only delightful but also surprisingly simple to create, allowing you to share the spirit of celebration with friends and family.
ingredients
- 3 lbs (1.4 kg) of orange blossom honey
- 1 gallon (3.8 L) of filtered water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 cloves
- 1 star anise pod
- Zest and juice of 1 orange
- 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
- 1 packet of Lalvin EC-1118 yeast
- 1 tsp yeast nutrient
- 1 tsp yeast energizer
steps
- 1.
In a large pot, heat 1/2 gallon of filtered water and dissolve the honey over low heat, stirring gently to combine.
- 2.
Once combined, add the remaining water and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature.
- 3.
In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon stick, cloves, star anise, orange zest, orange juice, and grated ginger.
- 4.
Add the spice mixture to the honey-water blend.
- 5.
Sprinkle the yeast, yeast nutrient, and yeast energizer over the top of the mixture and gently stir.
- 6.
Transfer the mixture to a sanitized fermentation vessel, leaving some room at the top.
- 7.
Seal with an airlock and place in a cool, dark area for fermentation (approximately 2-4 weeks).
- 8.
Once fermentation is complete, siphon the mead into sanitized bottles, leaving behind sediment.
- 9.
Age the mead for another month before enjoying. Serve chilled or warmed for a cozy experience.
