Traditional Honey Wine from the Farm
Mead is one of humanity's oldest fermented beverages - a simple honey wine made with just honey, water, and yeast. This basic 1-gallon recipe produces a delicious mead with 10-15% ABV that showcases the pure, complex flavors of our raw Dulzura honey. The process is straightforward: mix, ferment for 4-6 weeks, then age for best results.
Where to Buy: Homebrew supply stores or online (Northern Brewer, Midwest Supplies, Amazon). Complete starter kits available for $30-50.
💡 Farm Tip: Raw honey makes the best mead! Our unfiltered Dulzura honey creates complex, floral flavors you can't get from processed honey.
Clean and sanitize all equipment, including the carboy, funnel, and spoon. Use Star San or similar sanitizer. Mix according to package directions, soak equipment for 2-3 minutes, then let air dry.
Heat about 1/2 gallon of water until warm (not boiling), then stir in the 2-3 lbs of honey until dissolved. This may take 5-10 minutes.
Pour the honey-water mixture into the 1-gallon carboy using a funnel. Add the raisins/orange if using.
Fill the rest of the carboy with room-temperature water, leaving about 2-3 inches of headspace at the top.
Ensure the mixture (must) is below 90°F (32°C), then add the yeast. Sprinkle it over the surface.
Put the stopper and airlock on, then shake the carboy vigorously for 1-2 minutes to oxygenate the mixture.
Store in a cool, dark place for 4-6 weeks until bubbling stops. Ideal temperature is 65-75°F.
Siphon the clear mead (rack) into a clean, sanitized container, leaving the sediment (lees) behind. Let it age for at least a few months for best taste.
Little to no visible activity. Yeast is waking up and preparing to ferment.
Vigorous bubbling in the airlock. Mead looks cloudy and active.
Bubbling slows and eventually stops. Mead begins to clear.
Mead continues to clear and develop flavor. Patience pays off!
Add 2-3 lbs fresh or frozen fruit when racking to secondary. Strawberries, blackberries, and cherries work great.
Add cinnamon sticks, cloves, vanilla bean, or fresh ginger during fermentation.
Replace 1-2 quarts of water with fresh apple cider for apple-honey wine.
💡 Farm Note: Making mead is a wonderful way to preserve and celebrate a honey harvest. Each batch captures the unique character of that season's flowers. We love making mead with our Dulzura honey!