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debating fruit types for orange blossom mead

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jonalexdeval

NewBee
Registered Member
Jul 19, 2009
30
0
0
Oakland, CA
I just started my first mead: (5 gal.)

-15 lbs. california orange blossom honey
-lalvin 71B-1122 Narbonne Yeast (fast fert, 14%, sweet wines, fast maturation)
-nutrients, etc.

But I want to add a fruit at secondary (allow fert to finish in primary, stop, rack onto fruit). However, I am debating this since the orange blossom mead is supposed to make a good show mead as is. I'm looking for advice on what fruits would go well with this particular honey. Any suggestions? I was thinking fresh blackberries or strawberries.

Thanks
 

jonalexdeval

NewBee
Registered Member
Jul 19, 2009
30
0
0
Oakland, CA
Thanks Medsen! I like blueberries, but they sound a little mild. I'm looking for something deeper... cherries for instance if I could find fresh sour. But probably blackberries.

I would really like to do a banana mead at some point. Any chance of 5 lbs. bananas at secondary going well with orange blossom? :)
 

akueck

Certified Mead Mentor
Certified Mead Mentor
Jun 26, 2006
4,958
11
0
Ithaca, NY
Bananas seem to be one of those tricky fruits to capture. I would try blackberries first (a very good choice) and perhaps experiment with the bananas on a smaller scale before committing a large batch. If you do use bananas, be sure to peel them first!
 

Kloekus

NewBee
Registered Member
Jul 17, 2009
4
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the Netherlands
www.kloekus.nl
I'm looking for something deeper... cherries for instance if I could find fresh sour.


Try to find some morello cherries. In my area they are just harvested at this moment. I have often used them in beers and they give a very nice acid, fresh bite with a deep cherry taste to the beer.

How it will work out in mead? No idea.
 

capoeirista13

Honey Master
Registered Member
Aug 17, 2008
1,041
0
36
35
Philadelphia
Medsen's last commen is right on the ball. Quantity and quality make a huge difference. And if you can get fresh fruit it is much better than using a juice or something.
 

steve2md

NewBee
Registered Member
Jul 21, 2009
1
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0
You could always add a few split open vanilla beans, I have a soft spot for a vanilla orange blossom mead, especially when the florals of the honey come through in the mead well. Otherwise, peaches are in season and go absolutely freaking incredible with citrus honey meads, just use very ripe peaches (NO PITS!!) and plenty of them.
 

jonalexdeval

NewBee
Registered Member
Jul 19, 2009
30
0
0
Oakland, CA
These are all good suggestions. Thanks. If I do some kind of berries in secondary, should I mash them after freezing or just throw them in relatively whole? Maybe I should up it to 10 lbs. in secondary.

Peaches are a good idea... I've got to get some small experimental batches going before all the good summer fruit is gone...
 
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