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Herbal Meads
I really enjoy using really specific herbs in my meads to get certain effects (see my posting about my birthday mead). I reference a lot of herb books when I am coming up with recipes, as well as consulting my favortie brewing book Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers: The Secrets of Ancient Fermentation by Stephen Harold Buhner. I'd like to hear from other people what herbs they like and what effects they have. Here's some of my favorites for starters:
Mugwort and Wormwood: Both are Artemisias and both are psychotropic, although Wormwood is more so. Mugwort is known for its effects on dreams. Both are very bitter, which makes them great for mead making; the bitterness balances out the sweetness of the honey very nicely. At my house we recently tasted a delicious Pear and Mugwort Mead that we have been brewing and it was great! Both herbs heighten awareness and feel really good. I like to drink them at late night parties and then have really vivid dreams.
Yes, Wormwood is one of the main ingredients in making absinthe, but in my experience its effects are actually quite mild when not distilled.
Lavender makes a really relaxing brew. It's more of a nightcap sort of drink then a party brew.
I plan on posting more as I think of them, but I would like to hear from other people too!
I would be interested in making some herbal meads also. I just purchased the book, but what is your source for getting the herbs?
I love herbal meads as well!
One of my favorites is cordyceps mushroom. It is a chinese tonic mushroom. (No, its not a psychedelic kind) Good for lungs, heart and kidneys. Also provides a lot of energy and mental clarity. Everytime I have drunk a lot of this kind of mead, I end up with a very awake/alert drunkeness, and feel very happy, very healthy.
I also like to brew mead with agave syrup in addition to honey. Sometimes, I like to use other bee products as well, like bee pollen and royal jelly.
I like yarrow mead. Like the wormwood, the bitterness of yarrow offsets the sweetness of the honey nicely.
Ginger is another favorite ingredient. This one will actually cool you off if you drink during the heat of the day, but also, warm you up if you drink it during the cold winter months!
I just wish I had the patience and foresight to brew more meads. I usually prefer them to the ales that I brew, but rarely do I want to tie up a carboy for a whole year!
Thanks for inspiring me, I think I will make another mead this month!
I often gather the herbs myself. I live on the central coast of california, and mugwort and wormwood abounds here. I also have a reliable herb store that I get dried herbs from sometimes.
I also love yarrow and ginger and mugwort. Yarrow is such a wonderful herb for brewing!
Rosemary is great for brewing too, and also is said to help with memory and eyesight. I really like brewing with aphrodisiac herbs as well, like cloves and nutmeg.
Lavender makes a really relaxing tonic.
I have made the "complete hive" mead that buhner talks about in the book, except without the royal jelly. It turned out good, but I probably won't make it again. But I do put bee pollen in my brews often now.
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