When it comes to adding fruit to mead, such as in a melomel, the amount of fruit can vary depending on personal preference and desired flavor intensity. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to how much peach to add to mead, as it ultimately depends on the specific recipe and the desired outcome.
One approach is to start with a ratio of fruit to mead, such as 1 pound of fruit per gallon of mead. This can serve as a starting point, but you may need to adjust based on the sweetness and flavor of the fruit, as well as your personal taste preferences.
Another consideration is whether you want to use fresh or frozen fruit. Fresh fruit can provide a more vibrant and fresh flavor, while frozen fruit can be more convenient and available year-round. If using frozen fruit, it's important to thaw it before adding to the mead.
In terms of preparing the fruit, you can choose to either ferment the fruit along with the honey or add it after the honey has fermented. Fermenting the fruit can extract more flavor and aroma compounds, but it may also result in a longer fermentation time and potentially a cloudier final product. Adding the fruit after fermentation can result in a more pronounced fruit flavor, but it may be more challenging to extract the desired amount of flavor.
To add the peach flavor to your mead, you can either chop or puree the fruit and add it directly to the fermentation vessel. You can also choose to use a mesh bag or a fruit press to extract the juice or pulp from the peaches and add that to the mead. The choice will depend on the texture and consistency you want in the final product.
It's important to note that peaches can vary in sweetness and flavor intensity, so it's a good idea to taste the fruit beforehand to get an idea of what you're working with. This will help you gauge how much peach flavor you want to infuse into the mead.
In terms of personal experience, I have made melomels with various fruits, including peaches, and I have found that starting with a moderate amount of fruit and adjusting from there works well. For example, I have used around 2-3 pounds of peaches per gallon of mead and found it to be a good balance of fruit flavor without overpowering the honey.
Ultimately, the amount of peach to add to your mead is a matter of personal preference and experimentation. It's always a good idea to start with a smaller amount and adjust as needed, tasting along the way to ensure you achieve the desired flavor profile.