Cider can be the perfect drink for those hot summer days. Its tangy apple flavour and bubbly effervescence make it a very refreshing drink indeed.

Cider is traditionally made from apples. The apples are pressed to release the juice. The pulp is then discarded and only the juice is fermented
(You should not confuse apple cider with apple wine which has water and sugar added). Since there is no water added, you can imagine that you would need a lot of apples to make a 5 gallon batch of cider. This may not be a problem if you live in an area where apples are plentiful and you have access to a large press. Most of us are not so lucky so we have to find some other means.

Cider Kits Are An Excellent Alternative

Now you no longer have to live in an apple orchard to make great-tasting cider. Today's modern cider kits are an excellent alternative. Quality cider kits are made from freshly pressed apples. The juice from the apples is then quickly processed in state-of-the-art evaporators. During the evaporation process excess water is boiled away at low temperatures under vacuum. This process preserves the natural flavour of the apples resulting in a cider that is almost indistinguishable from a freshly pressed apple cider.

Although traditional apple cider is the most popular, you can also get fruit flavoured ciders. These are apple based but they have other fruit flavours added such as kiwi, cherry and field berry. These ciders can be made still or sparkling according to your taste.

We have provided some links in this section to help you learn more about cider and cider making. We hope you will find them interesting and enjoyable. Cheers!

Cider is passion for some people, as I am sure it is for the author of this very comprehensive article on cider making. Others just like to find a very simple recipe like Deadhead Cider, make it and drink it to their heart's content.