The ancient Greeks called mead the “nectar of the gods.” Since honey has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties; mead was also used in ancient India and China and has been used ever since by many cultures. Famous mead was made by monks in European monasteries and Queen Elizabeth the 1st had her own mead recipe. Today, mead is still a popular holiday gift in Europe and many companies like Kinsale Mead Company specialize in popularizing mead in Ireland and the UK.