We'll mead again

The October Revolution changed many things -- including the drinking habits of the Soviets, according to the St Petersburg Times. Until then, honey-based alcoholic beverages had dominated, but then began the move to vodka and beer.

Now the St Petersburg Institute of Honey-Brewing (Institute Medovareniya) has renewed production of mead and apple cider, and is planning to launch other almost forgotten strong alcoholic drinks, such as shibach (a strong mead) and medvyack (made with honey “using cognac technology”). One of the new mead companies goes by the name of Khlebnoe (“slurping”). The new companies are uncertain how the new products will be received across Russia and are initially focusing on the St Petersburg region.