cidr:cider

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cidr:cider [2025/12/06 13:19] – Dave Darbycidr:cider [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Cider, perry & juices+This topic is part of [[gt:food|Food & drink]]. 
 +====== Cider, perry & juices ======
  
  
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-## What are cider, perry & juices?+===== What are cider, perry & juices? =====
  
 Juices are what come out of pressed fruit, and as [‘ciderologist’ Gabe Cook](https://www.theciderologist.com/) says: “Quite simply cider is the result of the fermentation of apple juice; a fruit fermentation just like wine”. For perry, substitute ‘pear’ for ‘apple’. In the US, apple juice tends to be called cider, and the alcoholic drink, ‘hard’ cider. In the alcoholic drink, yeast turns the sugar in the fruit into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Juices are what come out of pressed fruit, and as [‘ciderologist’ Gabe Cook](https://www.theciderologist.com/) says: “Quite simply cider is the result of the fermentation of apple juice; a fruit fermentation just like wine”. For perry, substitute ‘pear’ for ‘apple’. In the US, apple juice tends to be called cider, and the alcoholic drink, ‘hard’ cider. In the alcoholic drink, yeast turns the sugar in the fruit into alcohol and carbon dioxide.
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 <caption> <caption>
-‘Barrel’ hand press. Pic: [Anne Dirkse](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Dirkse), [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) +_‘Barrel’ hand press. Pic: [Anne Dirkse](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Dirkse), [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)_
 </caption> </caption>
  
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 <caption> <caption>
-Bringing in apples for pressing. Pic: Cal Holland+_Bringing in apples for pressing. Pic: Cal Holland_
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What are the benefits of cider, perry & juices?+===== What are the benefits of cider, perry & juices? =====
  
 Real cider and perry keep traditional [orchards](/frui/fruit_trees) alive and support rural economies - and if you think about it, they're the only tipples that come from trees, which are both a carbon store and a superb habitat. Traditional orchards are great for biodiversity and wildlife, because the trees age more quickly. A 100-year-old apple tree will show far more signs of ageing than a 100-year-old oak, so there will be more dead wood, providing sustenance for a range of insects and micro-organisms – the base of the food chain. Real cider and perry keep traditional [orchards](/frui/fruit_trees) alive and support rural economies - and if you think about it, they're the only tipples that come from trees, which are both a carbon store and a superb habitat. Traditional orchards are great for biodiversity and wildlife, because the trees age more quickly. A 100-year-old apple tree will show far more signs of ageing than a 100-year-old oak, so there will be more dead wood, providing sustenance for a range of insects and micro-organisms – the base of the food chain.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Washing apples and cutting out damaged / rotten bits. Pic: Holly Pickering+_Washing apples and cutting out damaged / rotten bits. Pic: Holly Pickering_
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
-### Buying real cider & perry+==== Buying real cider & perry ====
  
 You can support independent, real cider and perry producers whenever you can. Find producers online, and look out for real cider and perry when you’re out and about. Camra [give advice](https://camra.org.uk/learn-discover/the-basics/find-real-cider-and-perry/) about where to look and what to ask. Don’t be fooled by the big corporates using folksy names and advertising to make it look as though they’re family businesses. If you’re really keen, you can indulge in a bit of [cider tourism](http://www.ciderworkshop.com/tourism.html). Treat craft cider with respect though – it can be quite potent. You can support independent, real cider and perry producers whenever you can. Find producers online, and look out for real cider and perry when you’re out and about. Camra [give advice](https://camra.org.uk/learn-discover/the-basics/find-real-cider-and-perry/) about where to look and what to ask. Don’t be fooled by the big corporates using folksy names and advertising to make it look as though they’re family businesses. If you’re really keen, you can indulge in a bit of [cider tourism](http://www.ciderworkshop.com/tourism.html). Treat craft cider with respect though – it can be quite potent.
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-### Making juice+==== Making juice ====
  
 You’ll have to set up and take down the equipment for washing, macerating and pressing the fruit, no matter how much you produce (unless you’re doing tiny amounts that you can process in a blender in your kitchen, then filter through a muslin bag). So if you have access to several large-ish fruit trees, it’s a good idea to get a gang of people together, or hold a community event. It may also be an idea to attend a community event yourself, before doing your own pressing. You’ll have to set up and take down the equipment for washing, macerating and pressing the fruit, no matter how much you produce (unless you’re doing tiny amounts that you can process in a blender in your kitchen, then filter through a muslin bag). So if you have access to several large-ish fruit trees, it’s a good idea to get a gang of people together, or hold a community event. It may also be an idea to attend a community event yourself, before doing your own pressing.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Tipping washed apples into a ‘scratter’ for pulping. Pic: Alberto Pezzali+_Tipping washed apples into a ‘scratter’ for pulping. Pic: Alberto Pezzali_
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Adding the pulp to hessian bags. Pic: Holly Pickering+_Adding the pulp to hessian bags. Pic: Holly Pickering_
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Stacking hessian bags full of pulp, ready for pressing.+_Stacking hessian bags full of pulp, ready for pressing._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-### Making cider & perry+==== Making cider & perry ====
  
 Making cider / perry is much closer to making [wine](/wine/winemaking) than [brewing beer](/beer/beer). It’s a very simple process – you follow the steps above for making juice, then allow it to ferment. You can ‘wild’ ferment, which uses wild yeast from the surrounding air, or you can add yeast yourself. The juice ferments in a demijohn with an airlock, and should be ready to drink in a few weeks, when air bubbles stop appearing. The longer the fermentation process, however, the better it tastes (is the general consensus). When ready, you can rack / siphon the cider / perry into bottles or storage vessels. When you’ve mastered the process, you can graduate to larger fermentation barrels. Making cider / perry is much closer to making [wine](/wine/winemaking) than [brewing beer](/beer/beer). It’s a very simple process – you follow the steps above for making juice, then allow it to ferment. You can ‘wild’ ferment, which uses wild yeast from the surrounding air, or you can add yeast yourself. The juice ferments in a demijohn with an airlock, and should be ready to drink in a few weeks, when air bubbles stop appearing. The longer the fermentation process, however, the better it tastes (is the general consensus). When ready, you can rack / siphon the cider / perry into bottles or storage vessels. When you’ve mastered the process, you can graduate to larger fermentation barrels.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Getting ready to press at the Orchard Project. Pic: Alberto Pezzali+_Getting ready to press at the Orchard Project. Pic: Alberto Pezzali_
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:food|Food & drink]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/food). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [Basics of cider making](http://cjoliprsf.awardspace.biz/Documents/NCMH-BasicsCiderMaking-lores.pdf) - [Basics of cider making](http://cjoliprsf.awardspace.biz/Documents/NCMH-BasicsCiderMaking-lores.pdf)
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-## Specialists+ 
 +===== Related topics ===== 
 + 
 +- [Winemaking](wine:winemaking) 
 +- [Beer brewing](beer:beer) 
 +- [Preserving food](pres:preserving_food) 
 +- [Fruit trees & orchards](frui:fruit_trees) 
 +- [Low-impact food & drink](lifo:food) 
 + 
 + 
 +===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • cidr/cider.1765027181.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2025/12/06 13:19
  • by Dave Darby