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Heather Honey Mead: the drink of the gods made in the Serra da Estrela
Heather honey from Serra da Estrela, fermented the old way by Licores Serrano in Covilhã. One of the oldest drinks in the world, in a very rare version.
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By Sérgio Carvalho, co-founder of Ra-Ro · View profile
About a 3 minute read
There are drinks that cross empires. Mead is one of them: honey fermented in water, one of the oldest alcoholic drinks in the world. Egyptian pharaohs, Greek philosophers, Nordic vikings and Roman emperors all drank it. But none of them tasted this one, made with heather honey from the Serra da Estrela by Licores Serrano, at a singular distillery in Covilhã, in the Beira Baixa.
What is mead?
It is a drink fermented from honey diluted in water, known since Antiquity by vikings, Greeks and Romans. In Portugal it endures on an artisanal scale, above all in areas with a strong beekeeping tradition.
What makes this mead different?
The secret lies in the origin. Heather honey is endogenous to the Serra da Estrela, where the bees make it salty, tart and sweet, with an amber colour. And the ancestral methods of fermentation are endogenous to Licores Serrano, where Artur Aleixo and his team have been perfecting spirits for 45 years.
How is it served?
Serve it lightly chilled, at 10-12 °C, in a wine glass. It pairs well with cured cheeses, roast meats and desserts. Above all, it is perfect to drink in silence.
Is it sweet?
Mead can be dry, semi-dry or sweet. Zimbro's traditional version is slightly sweet, evoking the original flavour of the honey, without reaching the sweetness of a Port wine.
Why is it an uncommon piece?
Because few produce it in the old way. It depends on a beekeeping tradition specific to the mountains and on fermentation methods that survive on an artisanal scale, far from mass production.
Frequently asked questions
What is mead?
A drink fermented from honey diluted in water, one of the oldest alcoholic drinks in the world. Known to vikings, Greeks and Romans. In Portugal, it endures on an artisanal scale above all in areas with a beekeeping tradition.
What is its alcohol content?
Typically 10-14%, similar to wine. Serve lightly chilled (10-12 °C), in a wine glass. It pairs well with cured cheeses, roast meats and desserts.
Is it sweet like Port wine?
It varies. Mead can be dry, semi-dry or sweet. Zimbro produces a traditional version that is slightly sweet, evoking the original flavour of the honey. It is not as sweet as Port wine.
How should it be stored?
Unopened bottle: a cool place, away from light, standing upright or slightly tilted. After opening: in the fridge, to be consumed within 1-2 weeks to keep the aroma fresh.
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