title: Developments in the fermentation process and quality improvement strategies for mead production.
abstract: Mead is a traditional alcoholic drink derived from the fermentation of diluted honey in the presence of appropriate yeast. Its modern production, in general terms, involves the addition of nutrients to initial diluted honey, pasteurization, yeast inoculation, fermentation and removal of impurities. Undesirable events along the process have been reported; among them, we highlight: delayed or arrested fermentations, modified and unpleasant sensory and quality parameters of the final product. These problems have been linked to the inability of yeasts to accomplish their role in extreme growth conditions. Emphasis has also been placed on the long fermentation times required, ranging from weeks to months, particularly when traditional procedures are applied and when the honey concentration is low. A series of alterations to the must and technological changes have been proposed in order to optimize the mead production process. In this context, this review examines the evidence that aims to improve meads' quality and make the production process easier and more efficient, by clarifying the source of unexpected events, describing the implementation of different fermentative microorganisms and using new methodologies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Galicia E-27002, Spain. antonio.iglesias@usc.es.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iglesias
authors.affiliation: CIMO-Mountain Research Center, Agricultural College of Bragança, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Campus Santa Apolónia, Bragança E 5301-855, Portugal. ananiaspascoal@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ananias
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pascoal
authors.affiliation: CIMO-Mountain Research Center, Agricultural College of Bragança, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Campus Santa Apolónia, Bragança E 5301-855, Portugal. albracho@ipb.pt.
authors.forename: Altino Branco
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Choupina
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Pesquisa Insecta, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Ambientais e Biológicas, Núcleo de Estudo dos Insetos, Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, Cruz das Almas BA E 44380-000, Brazil. carlos.alfredo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Carlos Alfredo
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo E-27080, Spain. xesus.feas@usc.es.
authors.forename: Xesús
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Feás
authors.affiliation: CIMO-Mountain Research Center, Agricultural College of Bragança, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Campus Santa Apolónia, Bragança E 5301-855, Portugal. leticia@ipb.pt.
authors.forename: Leticia M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Estevinho
mesh_terms: D000434:Alcoholic Beverages; D046508:Culture Techniques; D005285:Fermentation; D006722:Honey; D006801:Humans; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism