Mead Update 2

The bubbling slowed down considerably. It is interesting to shine a flashlight beam through the side of the bottle and watch the movement in the liquid as it ferments. It's alive! she said in her best mad scientist imitation.
But the time comes when most of the sugars have been converted to alcohol, and it is time to decant into a clean bottle for mellowing or aging.

Here's a shot of the thingie that Herb uses to measure the specific gravity in his winemaking. Hey, did I tell you he won another medal - a silver - in the 2008 Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition, Non-Commercial "Other Specialty" class 28-C, with his spiced apple wine made with apples grown by our favorite local orchard, Porters!

Fermented Honey

In that last blog about fermentation, I forgot to mention some of my favorite fermented foods, so I'll amend that list now. Black tea leaves, cocoa beans, and honey are all fermented into ingredients for wonderful treats - tea, chocolate, and mead.
Hopman's Beer and Wine Making Supplies store had mead making kits on sale last weekend, and I brought one home. Never too old to learn something new ... The directions were included, the process was easy, and in three weeks our mead made with Michigan honey should be ready to bottle up and age. Can't beat that!

Recipe: Flavored Honey

Aromatic Honey
Source: Herbs For Health Sept/Oct, 1999

1 drop culinary essential oil (1-2 drops)
1/4 cup honey

Pour the honey into a glass jar and add 1 drop of essential oil. Stir well.
Add a second drop if desired. Cover and store away from heat and light.
These honeys will keep forever, but some may crystallize. To reliquify,
loosen the lid and place the jar in hot water until the honey melts. Never
heat these honeys in the microwave.

NOTE : This recipe is a delightful way to introduce even the staunchest skeptic to culinary essential oils. Some good oils to use are ginger, cardamon, rose, peppermint or bergamot. You can also use the oils individually or in combination. Try combining peppermint and ginger, rosemary and lemon or cinnamon and orange.
These honeys are delicious added to coffee or tea, and are effective digestive aids taken after a meal. Or use them to make an instant tea when traveling; just add 1 teaspoon to a cup of hot water and enjoy.