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Making a business from honey: Beekeeper's mead mission | Making a business from honey: Beekeeper's mead mission |
(3 days later) | |
Not many people are lucky enough to turn a hobby into a career. | Not many people are lucky enough to turn a hobby into a career. |
But that is what Matt Newell, 30, has done, using honey from his beehives to make mead - an alcoholic drink - that is now on sale across the Wye Valley. | But that is what Matt Newell, 30, has done, using honey from his beehives to make mead - an alcoholic drink - that is now on sale across the Wye Valley. |
Mr Newell, from Chepstow, launched his business, Wye Valley Meadery, a year ago after gaining mentoring and advice from the Prince's Trust Cymru, which supports young people in business. | Mr Newell, from Chepstow, launched his business, Wye Valley Meadery, a year ago after gaining mentoring and advice from the Prince's Trust Cymru, which supports young people in business. |
He is now the winner of the trust's NatWest Enterprise Award, after transforming his idea into a "sustainable business". | He is now the winner of the trust's NatWest Enterprise Award, after transforming his idea into a "sustainable business". |
"I've been beekeeping as a hobby for 15 years, and have wanted to make mead commercially for such a long time," Mr Newell said. | "I've been beekeeping as a hobby for 15 years, and have wanted to make mead commercially for such a long time," Mr Newell said. |
"But I had no business experience, so needed help with that and also how to market such a niche product in a competitive market." | "But I had no business experience, so needed help with that and also how to market such a niche product in a competitive market." |
Mr Newell's interest in beekeeping began in his teens, when a commercial beekeeper asked him to help out with his 500 hives. | Mr Newell's interest in beekeeping began in his teens, when a commercial beekeeper asked him to help out with his 500 hives. |
"I loved it immediately," he said. "It seems so confusing at first, all the bees swarming everywhere, but behind it there is complete order. | "I loved it immediately," he said. "It seems so confusing at first, all the bees swarming everywhere, but behind it there is complete order. |
"It's like a whole super organism working together for one goal - creating food for the winter and the expansion and survival of the colony." | "It's like a whole super organism working together for one goal - creating food for the winter and the expansion and survival of the colony." |
Mr Newell's formal enterprise only began in earnest, however, after he quit a job in construction. | Mr Newell's formal enterprise only began in earnest, however, after he quit a job in construction. |
Determined to put his mead idea into action, he spent months testing recipes, before hiring space in a local brewery. | Determined to put his mead idea into action, he spent months testing recipes, before hiring space in a local brewery. |
His brother Kit, 29, an app designer, began helping out and now the duo produce 2,000 litres (about 3,500 pints) of sparkling mead a month. | His brother Kit, 29, an app designer, began helping out and now the duo produce 2,000 litres (about 3,500 pints) of sparkling mead a month. |
The drink, which has a 5.5% alcohol content and comes in a variety of flavours, is now stocked in 25 shops. | The drink, which has a 5.5% alcohol content and comes in a variety of flavours, is now stocked in 25 shops. |
Mr Newell said: "Some people don't know what mead is or even that it comes from honey. | Mr Newell said: "Some people don't know what mead is or even that it comes from honey. |
"But it is often popular with modern craft beer drinkers, and also female customers. | "But it is often popular with modern craft beer drinkers, and also female customers. |
"We plan on making a low or non-alcoholic version soon, as this is where the demand is. | "We plan on making a low or non-alcoholic version soon, as this is where the demand is. |
"We hope to help bring mead back into the mainstream and raise knowledge of the importance of bees too." | "We hope to help bring mead back into the mainstream and raise knowledge of the importance of bees too." |
In order to produce enough honey for the mead, Mr Newell owns 130 hives, each containing roughly 60,000 Welsh honey bees. | In order to produce enough honey for the mead, Mr Newell owns 130 hives, each containing roughly 60,000 Welsh honey bees. |
The brothers also buy other local honey. | The brothers also buy other local honey. |
Despite enjoying his work, Mr Newell admits that being self-employed in the bee industry does have its challenges. | |
"I work all the time," he said. "And I also get stung a lot, but that's because I choose not to wear gloves so I can do the fiddly bits in the hive. | "I work all the time," he said. "And I also get stung a lot, but that's because I choose not to wear gloves so I can do the fiddly bits in the hive. |
"Bees also instinctively fear the brown bear - their only predator - so if they see something brown and furry, they go crazy. That's when you don't want to be around them." | "Bees also instinctively fear the brown bear - their only predator - so if they see something brown and furry, they go crazy. That's when you don't want to be around them." |
The brothers are not the only ones trying to promote mead. | The brothers are not the only ones trying to promote mead. |
In America, brewing company Anheuser-Busch - behind beers such as Budweiser - has recently begun producing mead. | In America, brewing company Anheuser-Busch - behind beers such as Budweiser - has recently begun producing mead. |
And in England, the conservation charity English Heritage claims to be the UK's largest retailer of mead through its gift shops and online. In 2018, it said it sold a bottle every 10 minutes. | And in England, the conservation charity English Heritage claims to be the UK's largest retailer of mead through its gift shops and online. In 2018, it said it sold a bottle every 10 minutes. |
Elsewhere in Wales, a heather mead produced by Afon Mêl Meadery in Ceredigion recently won "Best Product from Wales" in the Great Taste Awards, the first time a mead has won the accolade. | Elsewhere in Wales, a heather mead produced by Afon Mêl Meadery in Ceredigion recently won "Best Product from Wales" in the Great Taste Awards, the first time a mead has won the accolade. |
The meadery, based on New Quay Honey Farm, has been running for two generations and supplies independent shops across the UK. | The meadery, based on New Quay Honey Farm, has been running for two generations and supplies independent shops across the UK. |
Director Sam Cooper, said: "I know of four new meaderies in the UK that have opened in the past year. But the biggest change we have seen is in the awareness of customers. | Director Sam Cooper, said: "I know of four new meaderies in the UK that have opened in the past year. But the biggest change we have seen is in the awareness of customers. |
"Young people now know what mead is, largely, I believe, thanks to Game of Thrones, on which it was often drunk." | "Young people now know what mead is, largely, I believe, thanks to Game of Thrones, on which it was often drunk." |
Sophie Atherton, a beer sommelier, said: "I see the increase in the popularity of mead as linked to the craft beer boom and the surge of interest in gin. | Sophie Atherton, a beer sommelier, said: "I see the increase in the popularity of mead as linked to the craft beer boom and the surge of interest in gin. |
"Our culture today is full of desire for tasting new things and experiencing new flavours. | "Our culture today is full of desire for tasting new things and experiencing new flavours. |
"Perhaps there's also an element of adding an 'instagramable' historic setting and you've got a drink everyone wants to be seen supping." | "Perhaps there's also an element of adding an 'instagramable' historic setting and you've got a drink everyone wants to be seen supping." |
Mr Newell was presented with his Prince's Trust award on Thursday in Cardiff. | Mr Newell was presented with his Prince's Trust award on Thursday in Cardiff. |
Philip Jones, director of The Prince's Trust Cymru, said: "Matthew is one of around 4,000 young people supported by The Prince's Trust in Wales last year. | Philip Jones, director of The Prince's Trust Cymru, said: "Matthew is one of around 4,000 young people supported by The Prince's Trust in Wales last year. |
"His passion for beekeeping, combined with the support of our staff and volunteers, made him a more than worthy winner of our NatWest Enterprise Award and we are excited about what he can achieve in the future." | "His passion for beekeeping, combined with the support of our staff and volunteers, made him a more than worthy winner of our NatWest Enterprise Award and we are excited about what he can achieve in the future." |
A brief history of mead | A brief history of mead |
Mead or honey wine is the oldest known alcoholic beverage, known to be drunk by the Vikings, Mayans, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans alike. | Mead or honey wine is the oldest known alcoholic beverage, known to be drunk by the Vikings, Mayans, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans alike. |
It is made from just three ingredients - honey, water and yeast for fermentation - although other flavours, such as hops or elderflower can be added. | It is made from just three ingredients - honey, water and yeast for fermentation - although other flavours, such as hops or elderflower can be added. |
The earliest archaeological evidence for mead comes from 9000BC in northern China; in Europe, the first traces date to 2800-1800BC. | The earliest archaeological evidence for mead comes from 9000BC in northern China; in Europe, the first traces date to 2800-1800BC. |
Mead also appears in classical literature, memorialised in the mead-halls of the epic poem Beowulf and also in The Mabinogion. It has also been mentioned by Aristotle, Dostoevsky, Chaucer and, more recently, JRR Tolkien. | Mead also appears in classical literature, memorialised in the mead-halls of the epic poem Beowulf and also in The Mabinogion. It has also been mentioned by Aristotle, Dostoevsky, Chaucer and, more recently, JRR Tolkien. |
Mead was popular during medieval times, however the rising cost and scarcity of honey soon made it too expensive for most, and its popularity waned. | Mead was popular during medieval times, however the rising cost and scarcity of honey soon made it too expensive for most, and its popularity waned. |
Tej, the national drink of Ethiopia, is also a form of mead, drunk out of a traditional vessel called a berele. | Tej, the national drink of Ethiopia, is also a form of mead, drunk out of a traditional vessel called a berele. |
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