Honey Wine Market: A Comprehensive Overview

From openpr.com/news 

The honey wine market has witnessed a rise in demand in recent years, fuelled by changing consumer preferences and the growing popularity of beverages with unique flavours and health benefits. Honey wine, often referred to as mead, is an ancient alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey with water. Over time, variations of mead have emerged, including fruit-flavoured meads, spiced meads, and those with added herbs, making it a diverse segment within the alcoholic beverage industry.

Honey wine is not only cherished for its historical significance but also for its distinct taste profile and natural sweetness. This sector is carving out a niche in the global market, catering to consumers looking for alternatives to traditional wines and spirits. The increasing appreciation for craft beverages and a rising interest in natural, organic products have further contributed to the growth of the honey wine market.

                                                                                                                                              Global Honey Wine Market

Market Size

Data Bridge Market Research analyses that the global honey wine market was growing at a value of USD 679.01 million in 2023 and is expected to reach a value of USD 1,531.29 million and register a CAGR of 10.70% from 2024 to 2031. In addition to the market insights such as market value, growth rate, market segments, geographical coverage, market players, and market scenario, the market report curated by the Data Bridge Market Research team includes in-depth expert analysis, import/export analysis, pricing analysis, production consumption analysis, patent analysis and consumer behaviour.

For More Information-https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-honey-wine-market

This growth is attributed to the growing demand for premium and craft beverages, the increasing availability of honey wine in both physical and online retail spaces, and the rising consumer awareness regarding the health benefits associated with mead. The market size is expected to expand further with innovations in flavours, packaging, and product offerings, catering to a broader range of tastes and preferences.

Market Share

The honey wine market is relatively fragmented, with several key players competing for market share. Some prominent brands that have established themselves in the global honey wine space include traditional mead producers as well as emerging craft mead companies. These players are positioning themselves strategically through product diversification, marketing campaigns, and expanding their distribution networks.

Geographically, North America and Europe dominate the market share, with the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany leading the way in honey wine consumption. These regions have a well-established craft beverage culture, and mead has gained popularity due to its historical and artisanal appeal. The market share of these regions is expected to grow as more consumers embrace the trend of drinking more natural and organic beverages.

Asia Pacific and Latin America are also emerging as promising markets for honey wine. In particular, countries like China, Japan, and Brazil are showing increasing interest in mead as part of their growing appetite for craft alcohol. As consumer preferences shift towards more unique and health-conscious choices, honey wine manufacturers are targeting these regions with tailored offerings.

The Evolution

Honey wine has roots that stretch back thousands of years, with evidence suggesting that it was consumed in ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. Mead was often regarded as a drink of the gods, and its popularity persisted in various forms through the centuries. Over time, however, honey wine became less prominent as wine and beer grew in dominance.

The revival of mead began in the 20th century, particularly in the 1960s, when a small group of enthusiasts started experimenting with honey-based alcoholic beverages. The movement gained momentum in the 1990s, fuelled by a broader interest in craft beverages and artisanal production methods. During this period, small meaderies and craft breweries began to emerge, producing unique mead styles and driving the popularity of honey wine.

Today, mead has evolved into a modern craft drink, and the production process has become more sophisticated. Innovative techniques and quality ingredients allow for a greater variety of mead styles, from sweet and dry to sparkling and carbonated meads. The ongoing evolution of honey wine is characterized by a blend of traditional methods and contemporary production practices, making it an appealing choice for consumers seeking something distinct from conventional alcoholic beverages.

Market Trends

Several key trends are shaping the honey wine market as it continues to grow and evolve.

Health-conscious Consumption: The rising demand for healthier beverage options is one of the key drivers behind the honey wine market. Mead, made from honey, is often seen as a more natural and wholesome alternative to traditional alcoholic drinks. With consumers increasingly concerned about sugar content, preservatives, and additives in their beverages, honey wine offers a clean label product that aligns with health-conscious lifestyles. Additionally, honey's potential antioxidant properties and natural sweetness have made mead a more attractive option for those seeking a healthier alternative to beer or wine.

Premiumization and Craft Movement: Like many other beverage segments, honey wine is benefiting from the growing trend of premiumization. Consumers are increasingly willing to pay more for artisanal, high-quality products, which has led to the rise of craft meaderies. Small-scale, independent producers are experimenting with a variety of flavours, infusions, and fermentation techniques, appealing to niche markets. The craft movement has also led to an increased demand for honey wine with unique profiles, such as fruit-infused meads or spiced meads.

Sustainability and Organic Offerings: With sustainability becoming an ever-present concern, honey wine producers are focusing on sourcing organic and locally produced honey. Consumers are showing greater interest in sustainably sourced products, and honey wine producers are responding by emphasizing eco-friendly practices. This trend is closely tied to the growing demand for natural and organic beverages, which often come with an appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.

Flavour Innovation: The variety of flavours and styles available in the honey wine market continues to grow. Traditional meads are available in sweet and dry varieties, but there has been a surge in experimental mead styles that include fruit blends, herbs, and spices. These flavour innovations cater to a broad range of consumer preferences, from those who enjoy complex, spicy notes to those who seek lighter, fruitier options.

Increased Availability: Another trend that has contributed to the growth of the honey wine market is the increased availability of mead in mainstream retail outlets. While mead was once a niche product available primarily in specialty stores or online, it is now being sold in more grocery stores, supermarkets, and even large e-commerce platforms. This wider availability has introduced honey wine to a larger audience, further driving market expansion.

Factors Driving Growth

Several factors are contributing to the growth of the honey wine market. One of the main drivers is the increasing consumer demand for craft and artisanal beverages. People are increasingly seeking out unique, flavourful drinks with a story, and honey wine fits this bill perfectly, offering a product with a rich history and cultural significance.

The growing interest in health-conscious drinking habits is another factor boosting the honey wine market. Consumers are more informed about the ingredients in their food and beverages, leading to a preference for natural and minimally processed options. As honey wine is often made with fewer additives and preservatives, it appeals to this demographic.

Additionally, the sustainability trend is helping to increase the popularity of honey wine. As more people become aware of the environmental impact of their purchasing decisions, they are choosing products that align with their values. Honey wine's association with nature and local sourcing helps to position it as a more sustainable choice in comparison to other alcoholic beverages.

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In conclusion, the honey wine market is experiencing robust growth, driven by a combination of evolving consumer tastes, an interest in premium products, and a focus on health and sustainability. As more people seek out unique and natural alcoholic beverages, honey wine is poised to continue its evolution from a historical drink to a modern, in-demand product.

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https://www.openpr.com/news/3838931/honey-wine-market-a-comprehensive-overview

A buzzy new limited-edition mead helps India’s tribal honey harvesters

From cntraveller.in/story

Made with single-origin honey sourced by tribal communities in Maharashtra and Gujarat, sipping on this small-batch age-old alcohol helps India’s sustainable beekeepers 

The story behind Pune-based Moonshine Meadery is one of the most bizarre backstories of any alcohol brand in India—they legit started making this antediluvian drink because of an in-flight magazine; briefly bootlegging it out of the co-founder’s grandmother’s basement. Their penchant for the peculiar is evinced by their latest limited-edition mead in their Project X series, 1,500 bottles of mead made in collaboration with Under The Mango Tree Society, whose forest-harvested Tribal Gold honey was sourced through tribal communities in Maharashtra and Gujarat. And by drinking it, you invariably help India’s honey harvesters.

Now, you better bee-lieve that goes down smoothly for armchair activists like myself, all too happy to save the planet one sip at a time.

What is mead?

Mead is an ancient alcohol with an ABV of anywhere from four to eighteen per cent, made out of fermented honey. It’s a tipple so time honoured it features in ancient literature with the frequency Japanese whisky blends are touted in lifestyle mags today, listed everywhere from Beowulf to the Rigveda—in the latter, it is referred to as soma.

Why mead?

                                                                                                                               Moonshine Meadery

Started by childhood buddies Rohan Rehani and Nitin Vishwas, Moonshine Meadery—widely heralded as India’s first modern mead-making outfit—came to be because Vishwas picked up an in-flight magazine in 2014. “Nitin read about London’s first new meadery in the last 500 years in Lufthansa’s in-flight magazine, which left us super intrigued as we had only heard about mead in the context of Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones… we knew it was a beverage that had existed, but thought it was lost to the annals of time,” says Rehani. Excited to get their hands on some, the two started calling up bottle shops across Mumbai and Bengaluru to no avail. But the realisation that mead still could be made kickstarted their curiosity in the honey-based bevy made with water and yeast, an interest that has kept on thumping to this day.

Not before long, the two were homebrewing mead in Rehani’s grandmother’s basement. “Honestly, we very nearly started a bootlegging operation that took us a couple years to transform into a full-fledged legitimate business (hence the name ‘Moonshine’) because there was no law concerning meads in the country; we actually had to go meet the Excise Minister of Maharashtra and convince the officials to change the law to allow mead to be added under the wine category.”

Beyond the legality of their homebrewing business, they were rather concerned that potential customers would write off their product as being too sweet once they found out the backbone of mead is fermented honey. So they directly went the experimental route, producing apple and coffee-forward meads versus straight-up traditional ones.

“But as our operations grew, we saw beekeepers from across the country, NGOs, and even government agencies reaching out to us (for collabs),” explains Rehani. While the duo initially turned down such partnerships, it inspired them to invest in a honey-harvesting structure for the business and experiment with honey-forward meads. Rehani even completed a course in beekeeping at the Central Bee Research and Training Institute (CBRTI) in Pune, and set up 600 beehive boxes, which are now looked after by a full-time beekeeper.

Journey of Project X

“The very first batch of Project X we released, we worked with sidr honey from our own beehives in 2021,” which won a gold medal at the European Beer Challenge in 2021. “Our sidr is a unique honey and translated into mead wonderfully with its creamy, buttery vanilla notes, almost like caramel… Project X became a way of spotlighting honey profiles beyond the super sweet stuff we find on our supermarket shelves;” their avenue to experiment with other kinds of honey after seeing a rollicking response to their nuanced nectar at international competitions and from their regular clientele.

                                                                                                            UTMT Society

“About a year ago, the founder of UTMT Society, Vijaya Pastala, gave us this Tribal Gold honey to sample, which we absolutely loved, from the concept of wild beekeeping adding supplemental income to Adivasi communities in Gujarat and Maharashtra to the unique taste that has a completely different profile to the original sidr honey Project X—plus the idea behind the original Project X was to keep on working with different honeys across India,” recalls Rehani. And it certainly holds plenty of nuances, totally distinct when compared to the profiles of other kinds of honey they have used. “This honey is very earthy, very robust, and very dark in colour… influenced by the forest flora that grows around it”—from flowers like mahua and palash to tropical trees like mango, amla, and cashew.

A planet-friendly pint

“India’s honey industry doesn’t have a production problem, it has a consumption problem,” says Rehani. “We produce so much honey that India is a net exporter of honey; I believe we’re amongst the top ten producers and exporters of honey in the world, but our per capita consumption is really, really low, around 30 grams per person, per year (in other honey producing Asian countries it is way higher; in Iran the same per capita rate is more than one kilogram.) In India, we're so used to using cane sugar that honey doesn't feature highly in our list of sweeteners… this poses an interesting challenge for the country and the beekeeping industry, especially considering global warming.”

                                                                                                            UTMT Society

As an example, Rehani references his own experiences with harvesting honey in India, “Over the last three years, due to climate change, my harvest season has halved but my production costs stay the same—so essentially the cost of my honey has doubled, but I can’t double my price and expect to keep my customers. This happens all around India,” which is why so much great small-batch single-origin honey winds up being sold to larger aggregators that degrade the honey. “We as people as a nation aren't consuming enough honey, so there is no demand and so prices for beekeepers are very low”.

But Rehani says that the dynamic completely changes when honey goes into his meadery. “I can convert one kilogram of honey into alcohol, which translates into about 15 bottles of Moonshine mead. So in one afternoon, a group of friends can finish an equivalent of honey that the same number of people would take half a year to finish. So not only does mead upvalue honey, but it also increases the rate of consumption of honey.” What makes mead even more interesting is that “it actually has a net positive impact on agriculture, because unlike cash crops like barley for beer or grapes for wine, with mead, the farmers put bees in boxes around the farmland or forests, adding supplemental income with adding needed pollinators to the food-growing farm area, making it a net positive for agriculture.”

The limited edition Tribal Gold Project X by Moonshine Meadery is only available in Mumbai and Pune at Rs250

https://www.cntraveller.in/story/a-buzzy-new-limited-edition-mead-helps-indias-tribal-honey-harvesters/