Quick Answer
What is tej?
Tej is a traditional Ethiopian alcoholic drink made by fermenting honey with water and gesho — a hops-like plant used as a bittering and fermenting agent. It ranges from mild and sweet to strong and dry, and is commonly served at Ethiopian weddings and other celebrations, traditionally in rounded flask-like glasses called berele.
Last updated:
Last updated:
What is tej?
Also called: Ethiopian honey wine, honey mead.
Tej is Ethiopia's answer to celebratory wine — honey fermented with gesho leaves into a drink that can be light and sweet or deceptively strong, served at weddings and holidays alike. Homemade tej varies a lot from house to house, which is part of its charm; a family's own recipe is often a point of quiet pride.
What goes into tej
- •Honey and water form the base, sweetened and fermented over days or weeks.
- •Gesho (Rhamnus prinoides) leaves and twigs are added as a bittering and fermenting agent, similar in function to hops in beer.
- •Strength and sweetness vary widely by household recipe and fermentation time — some tej is closer to a sweet mead, other batches are notably stronger.
- •It is traditionally served in a berele, a rounded, narrow-necked glass flask.
Planning notes
- •If serving homemade tej, confirm alcohol strength with whoever prepared it — batches vary significantly and guests should know what they are drinking.
- •Berele glasses are part of the presentation — source enough of them if the traditional serving style matters, rather than using standard wine glasses.
- •Offer a non-alcoholic option alongside tej for guests who do not drink, since it is a genuine alcoholic beverage rather than a ceremonial sip.
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See multi-event support →Frequently Asked Questions
Is tej the same as beer?
No — tej is a honey wine (mead), fermented from honey and water with gesho leaves as the bittering agent, distinct from grain-based Ethiopian beverages like tella, a traditional beer.
How strong is tej?
It varies significantly by recipe and fermentation time — homemade tej can range from a mild, sweet drink to something considerably stronger, so it is worth asking before serving to guests unfamiliar with it.
What is a berele?
A berele is the traditional rounded, narrow-necked glass flask that tej is typically served in, distinct from a standard wine glass.
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By Mayank JaiswalLast updated