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Chamomile Mead

A gentle, calming mead built on wildflower honey and dried chamomile flowers. Chamomile adds a delicate apple-floral character and a soothing quality. Targets 11% ABV with a semi-sweet finish. 5-gallon batch.

By Modern MazerPublished Version 1.0.0

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Batch size

5 gallons

Target ABV

11%

Fermentation

3–5 weeks

Conditioning

3–6 months

Responsible use: These recipes produce alcoholic beverages. Ferment and consume responsibly. Verify all quantities, equipment, and safety procedures before beginning. Consult local regulations regarding home fermentation.

Ingredients

  • 11 lbsWildflower honey
  • 4.5 gallonsFiltered water
  • 2 ozDried chamomile flowers

    Add in secondary in a muslin bag. Taste daily.

  • 10 gFermaid-O
  • 5 gFermaid-K

Yeast

Lalvin Lalvin 71B — 1 packets

Preserves floral esters.

Nutrient schedule

TimingNutrientQtyNotes
Day 0 (pitch)Fermaid-O2.5 g
24 hoursFermaid-O2.5 g
48 hoursFermaid-O2.5 g
1/3 sugar breakFermaid-O2.5 g
Day 0 (pitch)Fermaid-K5 g

Process

  1. Sanitize all equipment

    Prepare no-rinse sanitizer. Sanitize all vessels and tools.

  2. Build honey must

    Dissolve honey in 1 gallon of warm water. Cool. Add to fermenter with remaining water to 5.5 gallons.

  3. Take OG reading

    Record original gravity. Target approximately 1.082.

  4. Pitch yeast and nutrients

    Pitch Lalvin 71B. Add Day 0 nutrients. Ferment at 65–70°F.

  5. Staggered nutrient additions

    Follow TOSNA schedule. Degas before each addition.

  6. Monitor primary fermentation

    Check gravity every few days. Primary typically completes in 3–5 weeks.

  7. Add chamomile in secondary

    Rack. Add dried chamomile in a sanitized muslin bag. Taste daily — chamomile can become bitter if over-extracted.

  8. Remove chamomile and condition

    Remove chamomile after 1–3 days or when desired intensity is reached. Condition for 3–6 months.

  9. Package

    Bottle or keg.

Packaging

Ensure fermentation is fully complete before packaging.

Safety notes

  • Never bottle a mead that has not fully finished fermenting.
  • Chamomile can become bitter if over-extracted — taste daily and remove promptly.
  • Sanitize all equipment that contacts the must or finished mead.

Scaling notes

Honey and water scale linearly. Chamomile addition does NOT scale linearly — adjust to taste. Nutrient additions do NOT scale linearly.

Batch Scaling Calculator

Enter your desired finished batch size to scale ingredient quantities. Press Enter or tap away to apply.

Target ABV

11%

Original gravity

1.082

Final gravity

1.003

Sweetness

semi sweet

Finished volume

5 gallons

Gross starting volume

5.5 gallons

Expected loss

0.5 gallons(9%)

Ingredient quantities at original batch size
IngredientQuantityUnitScaling notes
Wildflower honey11lbs
Filtered water4.5gallons
Dried chamomile flowers2oz⚠ review
Fermaid-O10g⚠ review
Fermaid-K5g⚠ review

⚠ Ingredients requiring review

  • Dried chamomile flowers: Ingredient "Dried chamomile flowers" (id: chamomile) requires manual review before scaling. The original quantity is shown — do not use without recalculating.
  • Fermaid-O: Ingredient "Fermaid-O" (id: fermaid-o) requires manual review before scaling. The original quantity is shown — do not use without recalculating.
  • Fermaid-K: Ingredient "Fermaid-K" (id: fermaid-k) requires manual review before scaling. The original quantity is shown — do not use without recalculating.
Scaled quantities are mathematical estimates. Fermentation performance, yeast requirements, nutrient schedules, vessel headspace, temperature control, and legal requirements must be reviewed for the target batch size.

References & sources

Version history

  • v1.0.0— Modern Mazer

    Initial record. Phase 4C Batch 6.