Apple Cider History and Pimped Fall Cider Recipes
Ranked #5,131 in Food & Cooking, #97,526 overall
Memories and History of Apple Cider
Good, old fashioned apple cider was a big part of my childhood during the fall season and now I have grown to love it more because of the awesome pimped apple cider recipes.
My parents always drove up north to pick apples and would buy fresh apple cider to bring home for the family. My mom made a lot of homemade lots of cinnamon in it, yum! We would usually drink the apple cider cold from the refrigerator, but as I got older, the warm cider appealed to me on cool, fall nights. Either way, I am an apple cider fan and pimped cider has become my forte these days.
Historians believe apple trees grew along the Nile River River Delta area as far back as 1300 BC, but they do not know if apple cider was a beverage of that time. The Hebrews did drink a beverage called "Shekar" and the Greeks called it "Sikera." They made this drink by cooking apples with fermented juice and the Greeks would also boil apples in water with honey.
Pear and apple wine was a specialty of the Romans and eventually the word "Sicera" meaning apple tree, was used by the Romans. In the 9th century, Normandy became well-known for its apple vineyards and the cider beverage made from the apples. Ale, beer and wine were often replaced with apple cider, making it the common beverage of Normandy. It was hailed as a healthy drink with medicinal properties.
By the 19th century, over 300 varieties of apple trees were known and cider mills began popping up near large towns. Today's apple cider is mass-produced in ultra-modern plants, where pasteurization is now common. I still prefer the organic apple cider that is fresh and unpasteurized, as a large portion of the enzymes and nutrients are destroyed by pasteurizing it.
My parents always drove up north to pick apples and would buy fresh apple cider to bring home for the family. My mom made a lot of homemade lots of cinnamon in it, yum! We would usually drink the apple cider cold from the refrigerator, but as I got older, the warm cider appealed to me on cool, fall nights. Either way, I am an apple cider fan and pimped cider has become my forte these days.
Historians believe apple trees grew along the Nile River River Delta area as far back as 1300 BC, but they do not know if apple cider was a beverage of that time. The Hebrews did drink a beverage called "Shekar" and the Greeks called it "Sikera." They made this drink by cooking apples with fermented juice and the Greeks would also boil apples in water with honey.
Pear and apple wine was a specialty of the Romans and eventually the word "Sicera" meaning apple tree, was used by the Romans. In the 9th century, Normandy became well-known for its apple vineyards and the cider beverage made from the apples. Ale, beer and wine were often replaced with apple cider, making it the common beverage of Normandy. It was hailed as a healthy drink with medicinal properties.
By the 19th century, over 300 varieties of apple trees were known and cider mills began popping up near large towns. Today's apple cider is mass-produced in ultra-modern plants, where pasteurization is now common. I still prefer the organic apple cider that is fresh and unpasteurized, as a large portion of the enzymes and nutrients are destroyed by pasteurizing it.
Apples That Make the Best Cider
There are hundreds of varieties of apples, but not all of them make a good tasting apple cider. The best tasting apple cider is made from a variety of apples for a good blend of flavor. For a sweet, subacid apple cider, these apples are the most common ones used to make it.
*Delicious
*Rome Beauty
*Golden
*Cortland
Crab Apples are used to make an astringent flavored apple cider.
*Red Siberian
*Florence Hibernal
*Transcendent
*Martha
For a delightfully, aromatic apple cider, these apples are used.
*Golden Delicious
*Red Delicious
*McIntosh
General apple cider is made with these brands of apples.
*Johnathon
*Golden Delicious
*Stayman Winesap
*Melrose
The Making of Apple Cider
The making of apple cider is much more modernized today, but years ago there were family cider mills that produced this popular beverage. There are still many old-fashioned cider mills operating today that started the business years ago, and some of them offer a public viewing and tasting of the apple cider process. The processed apple cider does not compare to the homemade cider that is fresh and full of flavor.
The process begins with the grinding and pressing of the apples. Some people make their own equipment to do this and others buy the apple grinder and press to make the drink. The cider mills are usually located near an apple orchard and types and styles of grinders and pressers varies with each mill. The pictures show the various types of cider mill equipment.
Apple cider mill equipment has been operated by horses, water power, manpower and machinery. Most modern mills are machine operated, but some mills offer custom pressing and are very selective with the types of apples used. A cider mill in Old Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts, still uses 19th century equipment to make apple cider.
The mills manufacture beverages such as apple cider, hard cider, apple wine and pectin. The whole cider mill process involves crushing, fermenting, storing and shipping. The fermenting process can be done in wooden barrels, carboys and glass bottles.
Cider Presses and Cider Making Equipment
Pimp My Cider Recipes
We now have pimped apple cider at coffee shops across the United States. You can go into a Starbucks and find a variety of apple cider flavors that will suit just about every taste bud. You can mix flavors with your cold apple cider or twist it up as a hot drink. The sky is the limit with apple cider these days.
Hot Caramel Apple Cider Recipe. Serves 15:
1 gallon apple cider
1 10 ounce jar ice cream caramel sauce
1 container whipped topping (real cream is divine!)
1 teaspoon real vanilla
6 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon nutmeg
Chopped pecans
Pour the apple cider in saucepan or slow-cooker and add the cinnamon sticks, vanilla and nutmeg. Simmer for 2-4 hours. Add a teaspoon of caramel sauce to each mug and pour the apple cider over it and stir it up good. Top with whipped topping, drizzle of caramel and sprinkle with pecans. For the chocolate lover, you can add chocolate fudge ice cream topping with the caramel or substitute it altogether.
Recipe for hot, cinnamon spice cider. Serves 6:
6 cups apple cider
1/4 cup real maple syrup
2 cinnamon sticks
6 whole cloves
6 whole allspice berries
1 orange peel
1 lemon peel
1 piece of cheesecloth
Pour apple cider and maple syrup into a large stainless steel saucepan on low-medium heat. Place the cinnamon sticks, allspice berries, cloves, orange peel and lemon peel in the piece of cheesecloth and tie it closed with kitchen string. Drop the bundle into the cider mix and simmer for 1/2 hour. Remove from heat and pour into mugs.
Recipe for hot, spiced cranberry cider. Serves 12.
2 quarts apple cider
6 cups cranberry juice
1/4 cup brown sugar
4 cinnamon sticks
1 1/2 teaspoons whole cloves
1 lemon, thinly sliced
In a large pot or crock pot, combine apple cider, cranberry juice, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves and lemon slices. Heat on medium heat and simmer for 1/2 hour. Use a slotted spoon to remove the cinnamon, cloves and lemon slices. Pour into fancy mugs and serve hot.
About Apple Cider
An Awesome Michigan Cider Mill Powered by Water
Picture of cider mill
thanks to Sir James from Wikimedia Commons and Ookaboo!
Apple Cider Nostalgia
Apple Cider Question for You!
Are you an old fashioned apple cider person who prefers it plain or do you like the pimped cider?
I am old fashioned and like the apple flavor all by itself.
greenspirit says:
unadulterated, good old fashioned cider please!
miaponzo says:
Plain is the best!!! :)
BuddyBink says:
I think it is best all by its self.
ErHawkns7100 says:
plain
elyria says:
I love it in original flavor :)
cheech1981 says:
love the cider by itself...never been a fan of clove or allspice to be honest
flycatcher says:
So many varieties of apples, and blends of apples, and of course the degrees of fermentation ;) ... no need to pimp out cider, because one could spend a lifetime just savouring all the "plain old" options!
Oosquid says:
Plain, cider tasting cider for me please :0)
miaponzo says:
Probably plain is better for me.. :)
Titia says:
I'm definitely an old fashioned apple cider person, because we used to make our own wine in the old days. I like to keep things pure, despite the fact that I'm sure that the pimped cider will taste delicious.
Pimp my cider, bring it on!
juliavm says:
Never tried this. I'm all for trying new stuff.
safereviews says:
Pimp mine please!
athomemomblog says:
I like it pimped! My mom used to add a bunch of spices and serve it hot . . . soooo yummy!
seedplanter says:
I love the old-fashioned apple cider, although I have been known to try a new trick even though I'm an old dog. Might have to try the Hot Caramel cider!
purpleslug says:
I can't wait to try the Hot Caramel Recipe! Yum!
stoton10 says:
looks delicious
NidhiRajat says:
change is refreshing...........
kingsrookie says:
Well I Pimped my ride, why not pimp my cider?
Upon-Request says:
I'm all for making something old new again (as long as the "new" ingredients are relatively tame.)
GayleMcLaughlin says:
I love the old fashioned flavor of apple cider--but I think it would be fun to try all the different tastes they can make!
America's Best Cider Mills
- Cider Hill Farm Amesbury, Massachusetts
- A family-run business on 145 acres in Amesbury, Massachusetts. You can select from up to 50 varieties of apples and watch them get cold-pressed into cider. The farm's 150 year old barn is beautifully restored and serves as the farm store. They offer fresh cider, fruit, fruit pies and cider doughnuts along with other great treats.
- White Mountain Cider Company Mount Washington Valley, New Hampshire
- This cider mill is run out of a restored 1890's farmhouse and offers public viewing of cider pressing and sample the fresh-squeezed cider. A New England restaurant and cocktail bar is also available.
- Cold Hollow Cider Mill Waterbury Center, Vermont
- A Vermont cider mill that uses a 1920 cider press for about 7.5 million pounds of apples to make a delicious old-fashioned cider. One gallon of cider has 12 pounds of apples in it. They are open 7 days a week and offer lots of other goodies.
- Hacklebarney Farm Cider Mill Chester, New Jersey
- Hacklebarney Farm Cider Mill dates back to 1860, when the great great grandfather, Robert D. Pitney purchased the 150 acre farm. Today the farm has 350 apple trees that offer 23 varieties of apples which are processed in the old-fashioned "rack and cloth" press. The fresh apple cider is sediment free and offered from Labor Day to Columbus Day. Homemade baked good are also offered daily at the historic farm.
- Michigan Cider Maker's Guild
- Michigan is the beautiful "apple blossom" state with over 7.5 million apple trees as of 2008. The Michigan Cider Maker's Guild represents the state's top cider producers for the famous apple beverage.
Apple Cider Candles
Apple Cider Comments
Welcome Here!
-
-
greenspirit
Mar 6, 2012 @ 8:15 am | delete
- My family live in Somerset, one of the traditional cider making areas in England. We still have very old orchards full of gnarled apple trees with rare old varieties that belong to small producers with wonderful old presses, alongside the modern orchards of the larger producers. We also have Perry, which is made from pears, and some very good apple and pear liqueurs. I'm glad to see cider traditions continue across the world.
Thank you for blessing my Snowdrop lens...that was so kind, and very much appreciated.
-
-
-
jimmyworldstar
Dec 18, 2011 @ 1:08 pm | delete
- Awesome lens. The recommendations on apples are great. I like the pictures showing traditional apple cider making, it really goes to show how hard that labor was in the past before modernization.
-
-
-
fugeecat
Nov 30, 2011 @ 5:23 pm | delete
- The recipes sound great. But apple cider is great even without the extras.
-
-
-
mayapearl
Dec 9, 2011 @ 1:36 am | delete
- Great recipes!
-
-
-
smallhands
Nov 19, 2011 @ 12:52 am | delete
- I have never tasted apple cider (it is not common in our country) but I would sure like to try once I find some in the imported food grocery section!
Great lens, very informative!
-
- Load More
More of My Work
by jseven
I am a mom of four children and grandmother to 13 grandchildren, yes its a party whenever we are all together! :) Two new babies were just born two weeks... more »
- 62 featured lenses
- Winner of 21 trophies!
- Top lens » The Dangers of Steroid Creams for Eczema and Skin Problems
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
Explore related pages
- How to make a candy? How to make a candy?
- Hot Apple Cider Hot Apple Cider
- How to Make Hot Apple Cider How to Make Hot Apple Cider
- What is apple cider and why would I want to drink it? What is apple cider and why would I want to drink it?
- Michigan Fall Colors Michigan Fall Colors
- Halloween Mugs Are Hot! Halloween Mugs Are Hot!
