Medovina: what Czech mead is and how to order it at a market

A stall at a fair has a barrel, a row of small glasses and a handwritten sign: medovina. It is honey wine, an old drink in this part of Europe, and a good one to try on a cold day.

What is medovina?

Medovina is mead: honey diluted in water and fermented with yeast. Some versions add spices, fruit or herbs. The colour ranges from pale gold to deep amber. Sweet versions are the best known, and dry ones exist. It is closer to wine than to beer or spirits in how it is made, and it is closer to a dessert drink in how it is often served.

How strong is it?

Mead is usually stronger than wine and weaker than brandy, but each producer chooses. The alcohol content is on the label (as of 2026; check the label). The sweetness hides it, so pace yourself, especially if you are drinking it hot, when the warmth carries the alcohol quickly.

What does it taste like?

Honey, obviously, and then flowers, fruit, spices or oak, depending on the version. Cold, it tastes like a sweet wine. Hot, it works as a winter drink, with the smell of honey rising from the cup. If you find mulled wine too sharp, mead is the gentler choice.

When is it served?

At Christmas markets it comes hot, in a mug, as an alternative to mulled wine. See mulled wine and hot drinks. At fairs and festivals it is often poured in small glasses from a barrel. In shops it is bottled, as a gift or a dessert drink. At home it goes with cheese or a honey cake.

Where does it come from?

Mead has been made in Central and Eastern Europe for centuries. Honey was the main sweetener before sugar became cheap, and mead was an everyday and ceremonial drink. Czech producers today make it from local honey, often at small family firms. You will see it labelled by producer, and the better stalls tell you where the honey is from.

How it is made

The method is simple in outline, which is part of its appeal. Honey is dissolved in water, yeast is added, and the mixture ferments, turning the sugars into alcohol. Producers then let it mature, sometimes for months, and may add spices, fruit or herbs. The honey is the flavour: a light blossom honey gives a delicate drink, a darker one a heavier, more resinous one. This is why two bottles labelled medovina can taste entirely different, and why asking about the honey is a better question than asking about the price.

At a fair

Fairs are where mead feels most at home, poured from a barrel by the person who made it. Take a moment to talk to the seller. They will usually tell you which of their bottles is sweetest and which is driest, and many will let you taste two before you choose. Pay attention to the price per glass or per bottle, ask whether bottles are sold sealed, and keep the receipt. If you are carrying a bottle home, wrap it, because glass and market crowds do not mix.

How do I buy a good one?

Check the label for the producer's name, address and strength. A reputable stall displays this. Ask to taste. Buy from a producer you can find again. If a bottle has no label, skip it. A handwritten sign on a barrel is part of the charm of a fair, but a bottle you take home should tell you what is in it.

Is it vegetarian?

It is made from honey, so it is vegetarian but not vegan. Some producers use animal products in clarification, so check with the maker if it matters.

How do I order?

Medovinu, prosím means mead, please. Teplou or studenou is hot or cold, and malou sklenku is a small glass. At a market, check whether the price is per glass or per mug, and whether there is a deposit.

What does it go with?

Strong cheeses, fruit cakes, gingerbread and plain biscuits. It is also a dessert drink on its own. Try it after a meal with a slice of cheese, or as a small glass at the end of a market evening.

Is it good for a cold?

Honey and warm drinks feel comforting, but mead is an alcoholic drink, not a remedy. If you feel unwell, see a doctor.

Common mistakes

The first is drinking it like juice. The sweetness hides the strength, so a mug of hot mead is a bigger drink than it feels. The second is buying an unlabelled bottle because it was cheap. The third is ordering hot mead at a stall and carrying the mug away. Return it for your deposit, as with other market drinks.

Frequently asked questions

What is medovina?

Mead: honey diluted in water and fermented with yeast, sometimes with spices, fruit or herbs.

Is it served hot or cold?

Both. Hot at winter markets, cold in bottles and from barrels at fairs.

How strong is it?

Usually stronger than wine and weaker than brandy, but it varies by producer. Check the label.

Is mead vegan?

No, because it is made from honey. It is vegetarian.

Where can I buy mead in Prague?

At markets, fairs and Christmas stalls, and in some shops.

Do this today

At the next market, ask to taste a medovina, check the label for strength and producer, and buy a small glass. Compare hot with cold if both are on offer.