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In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in mead and Viking-inspired brews, as craft brewers and enthusiasts seek to explore and revive traditional mead-making techniques.

Step 6: Fit the airlock and leave to ferment

Putting aside Pytheas' early travel account, mead was thought to be extremely popular in Scandinavia. The northern latitudes and harsh climate – minimal sunlight, long and bitterly cold winters, and short and wet summers – do not lend themselves to the growth of grapes. Throughout Northern Europe, and especially Scandinavia, the fermentation of this honey drink was popular even before the so-called "Viking Age." One popular version of Viking Blood Mead is a type of melomel, which is a mead made with the addition of fruit. In this case, cherries are commonly used to provide a rich, deep red color and a tart, fruity flavor to the mead. The vibrant red color of the mead, combined with its strong, bold flavor, is likely the inspiration for the name “Viking Blood.” Leave them to warm up for about half an hour. This step ensures that the honey is as runny as possible and helps the ingredients mix together as smoothly as possible during the next step. Half fill the demijohn with water before pouring in the honey Step 3: Thoroughly mix the water and honey If you cannot find any hibiscus flower near you or maybe looking for a more complex flavor for your Viking blod mead, sour cherry is an excellent alternative. Not only do they provide a significant amount of tannins, acids, and sugars, sour cherries also release a wide range of flavors. The juice produces the right bloody red pigment as well.

Mead is referenced in sagas and poems like the Poetic Edda. The legendary Mead of Poetry, granting eloquence, is described as being made from the god Kvasir’s blood. This highlights mead’s mythological connections and roles as a source of wisdom and inspiration. Did Vikings use mead strategically in battle? Putting in additives provides an added layer of flavors and complexities to your Viking blod mead. You may use various ingredients such as spices, herbs, fruits, or secondary flowers to improve the taste of the mead you are brewing. Most mead makers commonly use cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, lemon, orange, and ginger as tasty additives to their mead. How to Enjoy Your Viking Blod MeadOne of the most famous variations of mead was the "Blood Mead" (Blood Mjød) that Vikings were said to have drunken. A combination of fermenting honey with mixed berries (especially tart cherries) and hibiscus saw the mead turn the color of blood. The hibiscus flower is a perfect sweetener to the tart and bitter flavor of the cherries, whilst it is also said to have some beneficial qualities such as lowering blood pressure. However, they made mead without knowing that they were collecting yeast. How to make yeast for mead Ingredients: The Vikings were both traders and warriors and, as they set off around Europe, they loaded their boats with barrels of honey mead to give them energy during their long journey. Mead, or honey wine, was an essential source of calories and, thanks to the high alcoholic content, didn’t spoil during long sea voyages.