This was a great day out in Canterbury at the Unicorn Inn
Delightful pub garden, near the Canterbuty West station. A good selection of Kent ciders and one perry, plus traditional games including a special Dutch version of shove ha’penny called “sjoelen”, various throwing games and genuine snail racing.
I liked the Crippledick dry cider best but the Double Vision cider and perry were both very good, and the local Pawley farm cider was equally representative of the Kent style, perhaps most popularly known by Biddenden cider of Biddenden vineyards.
Share This
ukcider has a working definition of real cider which focusses on the ingredients. The biggest difference between craft ciders and industrial ciders such as strongbow, magners and blackthorn is in the juice content. It stands to reason really, that something made from 100% fresh (not concentrated) fruit juice is goig to have a lot more natural flavour than sugar, glucose, water and malic acid. So we have this:
Real cider is the product of fermenting fresh apple juice.
The amount of apple juice which went into the final product must be between 85 and 100% and should be clearly stated on the container it is sold in or dispensed from.
No artificial sweeteners, flavourings or colourings
are permitted.
( For real perry substitute pear juice ) ukcider 30/11/2003
The point about ingredients labelling is something which is actively campaigned for by ukcider. We believe that cider drinkers of all types deserve to know exactly what goes into the products, and that this can only help the craft or artisan perry and cider makers who work with the unadulterated full juice.
The Real Ale organisation camra, on the other hand, has a definition which allows for the addition of extraneous sugar “to aid fermentation” but then goes on to suggest that “Ideally, however the minimum juice content should not be lower than 90% volume.” which is fine.
There is then a controversial clause in their description of “how to make real cider” which appears to condone the following practice under that heading:
A number of the larger producers will add sugar at the fermentation stage, enabling the cider to reach 12-14%abv, and then it is diluted down before it is sold (the legal limit for cider is 8.5%abv).
We were assured on 9th July that the above is not intended to cause ambiguity and will be altered on the website to avoid any confusion.
Share This
Thanks to John List for pointing us to
cidre de glace Canadien
Ice Cider is a Canadian invention, nothing to do with applejack. The cider is made from apples that have been naturally frozen.
FT.com / Services & tools / SearchFT.com / Services & tools / Search
Ice cider has proceeded to win plaudits and prizes from Paris to Tokyo. Recently, it received the benediction of Slow Foodies when it was paired with aged Parmesan in a taste workshop at the Salone del Gusto in Turin.
Where did this product emerge from?
Apples and cider have been part of Canada’s history since the first French explorers and settlers arrived in the 16th century. Many of the settlers came from Normandy and Brittany, regions with rich apple-growing and cider-making traditions. It’s reasonable to suppose that cultivars of the fruit from back home were among the products stowed in the holds of their sailing ships. Some of the resulting apples certainly ended up as rough ciders, though only ever for home consumption.
Share This
Talking about ingredients listing again, look closely at the label on a bottle of Yarde.
Ingredient:
100% local cider apples from
Compton Castle
Marldon, Devon
Sometimes the orchard is one of Dodbrooke Farm or Orchard House orchard, but it’s always 100% apples.
From their website:
RealDrink products exceed all known definitions of “real” and ensures the drinks are as natural as it is possible to achieve. Here are our objectives:
* Use local devon produce
* Use produce from traditional orchards that are organic or better ie without sprays or chemical fertilisers
* Use only 100% fresh produce
* Identify exact orchard source of produce on labels
* Use no additives whatsoever in apple juice and cider
* Promote real drink making to all
* Modern design and packaging
* Environmentally friendly
Online Shop
Share This
IMG_2177
Originally uploaded by scrumpyboy
This picture of Old Joes Cider Bar at the Royal Show generated a lively exchange on the ukcider mailing list after being posted by scrumpyboy.
View large and read the signs.
What is it that makes the Deisel (sic) “Fruits of the forest” bright red? Roy Bailey reckons he knows but he’s not letting on, at least not in public.
Share This
Recent Comments