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Gusizhuo · 10-01-2007, 01:56 AM

I am about to start my first batch of mead, and most of what I have read suggests mead really goes better with some kind of yeast nutrient. However, here in Taiwan I have no access to the usual brew shop sold nutrients. Does anyone know of a homemade option? And really, how important/necessary is yeast nutrient for mead?

mrkristofo · 10-01-2007, 02:15 AM

Here's the ingredients to 800g of yeast nutrient Enovit. Scale the recipe as necessary.

Enovit - 40 grams of diammonium phosphate, 747 grams of ammonium sulphate, 2 grams of thiamine, 1 gram of potassium tartrate, 10 grams of bentonite.** Usage rate for Enovit is 3-6 grams per 5 gallons.* 3 grams is about 1 teaspoon.**

cheers.

OdinOneEye · 10-01-2007, 02:43 AM

Nutrient is fairly necessary, since honey is pretty much just pure sugar and has very few other naturally occurring nutrients anyway. It'll start your brew faster and your yeast will ferment slightly longer.
Have fun!

(dancing banana dancing banana)

Gusizhuo · 10-01-2007, 04:37 AM

Uhh, thanks guys, but where would I find stuff like that other than a brew store? Any nutrient options you can find at a supermarket or what not?

NurseNan · 10-01-2007, 09:20 AM

you can order nutrient from any online homebrew store. The smaller sizes would be light, so shipping would be cheaper.

mrkristofo · 10-01-2007, 02:19 PM

chemical supply companies?

Many pharmacies have Thiamin.

Glibbidy · 10-01-2007, 02:53 PM

IIRC zinc may used as a yeast nutrient, However, the dosage amount I don't recall.
As far as aquiring it....anywhere you can find vitamins.

EDIT: I did some googling and found this on zinc:

0.1-0.3mg/l and up to 0.5 mg/l being maximum

Gusizhuo · 10-03-2007, 04:04 AM

Ok, I found ammonium diphosphate, but not diammonium phosphate. I have read a lot that DAP works as a stand alone nutrient, but does ADP as well? I want to make sure before I drink anything with ADP in it. I just remember that movie Erin Brockavich where one kind of chromium was harmless to people but then the other kind caused cancer. I really want to make mead, but I am not sure if I want cancer.

NurseNan · 10-03-2007, 06:42 AM

You can make mead without nutrient, but it might take longer, fermentation might or might not go on as long, and there is no predicting your FG....There was no yeast nutrient around during medieval times, and they made mead. You could always try it without, and see what happens.

Gusizhuo · 10-03-2007, 01:12 PM

Ok, I found some DAP, which I believe can be used as a stand alone nutrient, right?