Tej has an extensive history in Ethiopian society and is thought to be one of the oldest alcoholic beverages ever produced. Although tej is largely consumed in Ethiopia, it is not restricted to Ethiopia.

Tej, the national drink of Ethiopia, is a must-try mead for anyone visiting the country. Made of three ingredients – honey, water and gesho leaves (also known as shiny-leaf buckthorn) – homemade tej appears deep yellow or orange in colour, after months of fermenting.

Nov 7, 2019 · Scenes from a tej bet bar in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A server arrived, and from an immense teakettle poured streams of tej into our beakers. Made from fermented honey and given a slightly...

Apr 5, 2023 · In Ethiopia, people have been brewing a honey-based drink called tej for thousands of years. Tej is a type of fermented honey wine. It is technically classified as mead, which is a term that refers to a wide variety of honey wines that …

Feb 27, 2025 · Tej, Ethiopia’s beloved honey wine, is much more than just a drink—it’s a story steeped in rich history, intricate craftsmanship, and a deep sense of community. At Batch Mead, we find inspiration in treasured beverages like Tej, which share honey as their central element.

Jul 18, 2018 · Tej bets, or honey-wine houses, look modest and unassuming from the outside, but these gathering spaces are central tenets of Ethiopian life. Neighbors come here to catch up on local gossip and relax over glasses of mead, or honey wine.

Feb 14, 2025 · Tej is traditionally made from honey, water, and the leaf and stems of Gesho (a type of plant similar to hops). It has a distinct flavor that can be sweet or dry depending on how it is made, and it can range in strength from light to strong. Here is a step-by-step recipe that will help you prepare Tej at your home. Enjoy!

Jan 6, 2015 · Tej is usually homemade, but throughout Ethiopia it is available in “tej houses” (tej betoch, singular tej bet (ጠጅ ቤት)). The traditional vessel for drinking tej is a rounded vase-shaped container called a berele, which looks like a Florence flask.

Jul 20, 2012 · Tej is a simple honey wine with some uniquely Ethiopian twists. Like all meads, tej starts in a beehive. Ethiopian hives, or kofo , are traditionally cylinders up to a meter long formed out of ash and cow manure.