If you are just starting in your quest to understand and learn the Meadmaking process, your first consideration has to be style choice.
Most of my Meadmaking involves the use of fruit. There are several reasons I like to do this.
First, I like to experiment with a variety of fruits to see what quality of mead (fruit wine) they will produce.
Second, fruit adds complexity to the flavor profile of mead.
Third, fruit adds nutrients and buffering (pH) capacity to the must.
Its time for a break. Hope to get back to work here soon.