Making
The Production of Tej and Tej-based Wines
Tej and Tej-base Wines are produced through a combination of traditional and modern methods. In Ethiopia, these ancient beverages have been produced in many forms using the traditional methods. Tej plays a big role in the cultural and religious life of the people of Ethiopia. No birth or burial, no wedding or other social event, can be imagined without Tej. Unfortunately, to this day, the Tej produced varies from poor to fair as a result of improper processing techniques or a lack of adequate quality control measures or most importantly not using the traditional ingredients. One of The Heritage Winery’s main goals is preserving the unique traditional character of Tej. From the careful selection of fresh ingredients to the stainless still tank, the process of making our traditional Tej and Tej-based Wines is full of creativity whilst staunchly respecting traditional values.
The Fermentation
Fresh, high-grade quality pure organic honey, hops, and filtered water using reverse osmosis are mixed in a traditional way for the liquefaction and turning it to fermentable sweetness and alcohol. It is through this process that The Heritage Winery can ensure that the natural flavors are allowed to fully develop without sulfites or any kind of additives. This method has been developed over many generations in ancient Ethiopia, and we are privileged and grateful that this thousand-years-old recipe has rightfully been passed on to us from family members who flew to the United States for the very purpose of handling it over to us. Our Tej and Tej-based wines are produced in small batches to ensure appropriate adjustments can be made, such as testing periodically by a certified laboratory in order to make sure that absolutely no sulfites are added to each individual batch.
Raw materials
From our blend of herbs and hops to our organic high-grade honey, we only uses the purest and the finest raw materials that nature can provide.
Honey
Honey can be called the substance of divinity, a living organic, and an energy builder containing all the essential minerals for life. The Heritage Winery carefully chooses the honey for its grade, purity and freshness.
Hops
An evergreen, usually ascending shrub from 16 to 30 feet high, Gesho (Rhamnus prinoides) or a species of buckthorn native to Ethiopia grows in the highlands usually at altitude of 1500-2500m. Gesho not only give bitter dry flavor taste but also serve as natural preservatives as well as balancing sweetness with bitterness to Tej.
Here in the US, our wines are produced using Humulus lupus also known as Hops. With respect to our family recipe we have incorporated our Heritage to the western pallete which makes our Tej and Tej-based wines very unique and premium authentic Tej.
