Pagan

History You Can Taste... Raising a horn of mead joins an unbroken chain of memory and ritual. It

embodies continuity, not nostalgia, reviving myth through flavor shared around the table. Every sip

tells a story. Pagan Mead carries that story forward.

The Pagan is one of the most well-known pantheonic meads of Ragnarok. A few of the others that sit a long side it, are the Heathen and the Idunn. These drinks truly define what Ragnarok Meads is about. This mead infuses a variety of ingredients giving it a very unique and distinctive set of characteristics. By using fruits and herbs that were available to most Nordic people, we have fermented culture in a bottle. As mentioned in a previous blog (the Heathen) the words pagan and heathen are both similar but denote specific functions. In fact, before the word Viking was ever used they were commonly referred to as Northmen, Danes (even though many were not Danish), heathens, pirates, and lesser mentioned pagans. In the Saxon Chronicles, Vikings were most often referred to as Danes and to a lesser extent, heathens. The latter of course being more of a derogatory term. 

According to etymology:

Pagan n. Probably before 1400 paygan heathen; later pagan (probably before 1425); borrowed from Late Latin pāgānus pagan, from Latin, villager, rustic, civilian, from pāgusrural district, originally one limited by markers; related to pangere to fix, fasten.

These terms shifted by context. In sermons, pagan meant idol-worshipper, opposing Christian faith. In law, heathen marked outsiders, stripped of rights. Later Latin texts used gentilis or infidelis, but

paganus endured for its rustic continuity. These words preserved the memory of unyielding traditions. Pagan Mead takes its name from this linguistic soil, blending herbs, myth, and honey into a drink that speaks across centuries of land, community, and persistence.

[Snake witch Rune Stone, Gotland Sweden, Museum of Visby Gotland]

The Snake-Witch Stone of Gotland... On Gotland in the Baltic Sea stands a picture stone from 400–600 CE. A figure holds a snake in each hand, joined by boar, eagle, and wolf, symbols of strength,transformation, and wildness. The limestone, worn by centuries of wind and rain, rises taller than a person. It evokes distance (fifteen centuries) and immediacy (its image retains force).

Linked to Vitastjärna in the Gutasaga, who dreamt of three serpents foretelling Gotland’s fate, the

figure embodies wisdom, foresight, and guardianship. She is entwined with serpents, keeper of

knowledge, protector of community. The boar signifies fertility and ferocity, the eagle sharp sight andspirit, the wolf menace and liminality.

Picture stones were gathering points for story and rite. Carving figures into stone fixed myth in place

and bound community to memory. From stones to midsummer rituals, these symbols show history

lives in images and practices. The Snake-Witch stone guides Pagan Mead, representing myth’s power, ritual’s strength, and the past’s presence.

The Taste of Old Brewing... Before hops dominated, northern Europeans flavored meads and ales with herbs and blossoms, each household crafting unique blends. This taste was shaped by landscape, memory, and necessity. Pagan Mead revives this. Apples, cherries, and plums add orchard depth and sweetness. Mugwort brings bitter, aromatic notes tied to midsummer rites. Yarrow offers sharpness and healing. Elderflower provides floral lift, linked to protection. Buckwheat honey grounds with earthy richness, oak aging ties to sacred trees of resilience.

In medieval Europe, the shift from gruit to hops reshaped brewing. Gruit varied by town, giving each brew a fingerprint. As authorities taxed gruit, hops became the uniform choice by the sixteenth century, though Scandinavian farmhouse traditions persisted. Returning to gruit-inspired blends rediscovers a lost palette: resinous, floral, earthy. Each sip is a conversation between herbs, honey, and fruit, carrying flavor and meaning.

Apples, cherries, plumbs, Yarrow, Mugwort, Elderflower, buckwheat honey, and oak aging. All of these together in harmony truly bring out a rustic and bold character that is well balanced with dark sweet fruits and herbs. The herbal aspect of the Pagan is a wonderful tea like quality that allows stronger flavors, such as the oak, to be dominate yet retain a refined since of earthy elegance.  Overall, this mead could be considered a Melomel-Metheglin hybrid because of the equal infusion of diversity. Over the years, I have found that no one has the same experience when drinking our meads, or even just mead in general, no two people are able to describe them the exact same way. The pagan is a drink I normally refer the dark beer drinkers and whiskey drinkers to. Primarily because the flavor is robust, dark, caries the oak flavors well, and the alcohol bite comes through very nicely. The plumbs and cherries marry together in low key notes, backed with oak and a forward alcohol presence this mead tastes more like a fruit infused whiskey.

A big thank you to Paul Jón Jackson at RúnicWorks Translation ᛁ Transcription I Consulting for his amazing contribution on this blog and many other portions of Ragnarok's website.

Below I have provided a fruit and herbal properties list that gives insightful health and magical background to the ingredients. And as a reminder the FDA does not regulate herbs and dietary supplements. The following was collected through multiple online and literary sources.

Apples

Health benefits:  Apples are approximately 85% water and have antioxidants, as well as fiber. These fruits have higher fiber than sugar which makes them a useful food to keep glucose at a good level. High cholesterol can be reduced by 5-8% by eating 3 ounces of dried apples a day. Apples contain not only fiber but quercetin, both of which help reduce inflammation. That latter has also been linked to help reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.

Magical applications: Apples are said to be useful in love magic, and to leave the last apple of harvest on the tree will bring about good harvest the following year.

Cherries

Health benefits: Complete with an abundance of polyphenols and vitamin C, cherries have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Studies have linked cherries to reduce oxidative stress, post exercise muscle soreness, blood pressure, arthritis, and improved sleep.

Plums

Health benefits: Not only do plums and prunes assist with digestive regularity, but studies have found them to be protective against bone loss with the help of vitamin K. Other studies have found that plums may possibly be beneficial to cholesterol and healthy blood sugar.

Mugwort

Health benefits: There is said to not be enough modern scientific research to back up the claims made about the beneficial qualities of this herb/spice, but many cultures for centuries have sworn by them and their possible benefits, including: Teas, whole leafs, essential oils and powders. Common uses of Mugwort have been for menstruation, Amenorrhea, anxiety, stress relief, pain relief, chronic fatigue, improved energy levels, improving liver health, constipation, insomnia, depression, antitumoral, itch relief, eczema, epilepsy, muscle cramps, blood circulation, nausea/vomiting, digestion, headaches, insect repellent, antimalarial, increased urination, antibacterial and antifungal properties. Some of the health benefits from this plant can be contributed to such chemical compounds as artemisinin, camphor, pinene, and cineole. These compounds may not be safe for consumption during pregnancy or for those who are allergic to ragweed, celery, birch, and carrots.

Magical applications: Not only is this plant sometimes used in ales and meads the same way as hops, but as a visionary herb in both teas and whole leaf under a pillow. Other applications are for protection, enhanced awareness, communication with ancestors and the spirit world.

Yarrow

Health benefits: There is said to not be enough modern scientific research to back up the claims made about the beneficial qualities of this herb/spice, but many cultures for centuries have sworn by them and their possible benefits to help: Palpitations, stomach cramps, anti-inflammatory, fight infection, fevers, eczema, IBS, promotes a sedative activity on the nervous system, and healing wounds. This herb is also use in many foods with soups, salads, and more. Recommended use, no more than 250-500 mg daily. Please use caution when pregnant, Yarrow may affect menstruation which may cause miscarriage. May cause allergic reaction if you are sensitive to ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, or any other flora in the Asteraceae/Compositae family.

Magical applications: Blessing marriages, love, and forming permanent relationships or marriage.

Elderflower

Health benefits: There is said to not be enough modern scientific research to back up the claims made about the beneficial qualities of this herb/spice, but many cultures for centuries have sworn by them and their possible benefits. Elderflower contains a chemical that produces anti-inflammatory effects and possibly antidiabetic effects. Other uses include: common cold, constipation, obesity, control blood sugar, and used as a diuretic. Safest use under 4gm daily, possibly unsafe in large quantities.

Magical application: The elder tree itself, flowers and berries included, has been a focal point of health benefits so overlooking the magical uses wouldn’t be hard. It is believed that Elder trees attract fairies and protection if grown in a garden. Growth with spiritual and emotional connectivity when using this plant is consistent with many of the medical uses as well.

Buckwheat honey

Buckwheat produces a fruit like rhubarb and has small flowers. Honey in general has been used to heal open sores and wounds, sooth coughs and sore throats, used topically as a skin care agent, highest antioxidants of any honey, reduces cholesterol, and even help repair DNA by reversing mutations.

Magical applications: All honey is the product of good weather from the Sun and hard work from bees. So understandably, honey has a strong connection to solar energies, and the earth from which all other nutrients are gathered.

Oak Aging

Magical purposes: Associated with many gods, including Thor, the Oak is a powerful and useful tree in many cultures. This tree also produces mistletoe which is still used today, like during the winter holidays and in Norse mythology in the story about the death of Baldr. This tree helps to invoke magic with weather, earth, and especially gods of thunder.

Disclaimer: As a reminder, all things in excess can be dangerous. Even drinking too much water can cause severe side effects or death. In the United States, all herbal remedies are listed as a dietary supplement by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Therefore, it is not subject to strict scrutiny for safety and efficacy. Unlike standard pharmaceutical drugs which are required to pass (Clement et al. 2006). The FDA mandates that all herbal remedies contain a disclaimer informing the consumer that any claims about the medicine’s therapeutic value have not been evaluated by that agency… Ironic, I know… The information contained in this article is comprised of multiple online sources, including but not limited to NIH and other government sources, WebMD, Healthline, and others.