Food

Mead with Juniper Berry

Vilod’s juniper-spiced mead, mentioned by Ralof during the opening escape and found as a few bottles in the inn at Helgen.

Mead with Juniper Berry is a small-batch mead flavoured with juniper and brewed by Vilod. During the opening of the game, Ralof wonders aloud whether Vilod is still making it. Vilod died in the attack on Helgen, so only a handful of bottles are left.

Effects

Restores 20 Stamina
Stamina regenerates 30% slower for 40 seconds

It works like other meads: a quick Stamina boost followed by a short period of slower recovery, so drink it before exertion rather than during it.

Where to find it

The bottles sit in the Helgen inn, the building the Dragonborn jumps into from the second floor of the neighbouring tower during the escape. They cannot be taken until Unbound is complete, so you have to come back to the ruins later to collect them.

Good to know

Five bottles are placed in Helgen, and they respawn after ten days.
The bottle looks exactly like Nord Mead and Ale.

Where to find it

Five bottles in the inn at Helgen, available after Unbound; they respawn after 10 days.

Crafting materials

Lore notes

In the novel The Infernal City, an ale served at The Crown’s Hammer is described as strong and sweet with a hint of juniper, a Colovian Highland style that had become popular across western Cyrodiil.

Dropped by

Quest reward from

Where it appears

Helgen

Helgen is the fortified town where Skyrim begins – and where Alduin returns, burning it to the ground during your execution.

Characters connected to it

Ralof

Ralof of Riverwood is the Stormcloak soldier who wakes you up on the prisoner cart – “Hey, you. You’re finally awake.” – and can help you escape Helgen.

Vilod

Vilod in Skyrim: Helgen villager famed for his juniper-berry mead, who cheers the Stormcloak execution in Unbound and dies helping the Imperials.

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Sources checked: Skyrim/DLC game files (food records, cooking and oven recipes); Elder Scrolls Fandom food and cooking articles