Cider apple
Encyclopedia
Cider apples are a group of apple
cultivar
s grown for their use in cider
production. In the UK the Long Ashton Research Station
categorised Cider apples in 1903 into four main types according to the nature of their flavour components. For Cider production it is important that the fruit contains high sugar
levels which encourage fermentation
and raise the final alcohol
levels. Cider apples therefore often have higher sugar levels than Dessert and Culinary apples.
Normally, ciders are blended using juice from several apple cultivars to give the best results. There are few varieties that will make a good cider all by themselves, Golden Russet is one such variety, and is prized in both single variety and multi-variety blends of cider.
Three apple cultivars from England
are 'Kingston Black', 'Stoke Red', and 'Dymock Red':
The two most famous American
cider apple cultivars are Harrison Cider Apple
and 'Campfield'. They both originated in Essex County, New Jersey
before 1776.
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
s grown for their use in cider
Cider
Cider or cyder is a fermented alcoholic beverage made from apple juice. Cider varies in alcohol content from 2% abv to 8.5% abv or more in traditional English ciders. In some regions, such as Germany and America, cider may be termed "apple wine"...
production. In the UK the Long Ashton Research Station
Long Ashton Research Station
Long Ashton Research Station was an agricultural and horticultural government research centre in the village of Long Ashton near Bristol, UK...
categorised Cider apples in 1903 into four main types according to the nature of their flavour components. For Cider production it is important that the fruit contains high sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
levels which encourage fermentation
Fermentation (food)
Fermentation in food processing typically is the conversion of carbohydrates to alcohols and carbon dioxide or organic acids using yeasts, bacteria, or a combination thereof, under anaerobic conditions. Fermentation in simple terms is the chemical conversion of sugars into ethanol...
and raise the final alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
levels. Cider apples therefore often have higher sugar levels than Dessert and Culinary apples.
- Sweets This group is low in tanninTanninA tannin is an astringent, bitter plant polyphenolic compound that binds to and precipitates proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids.The term tannin refers to the use of...
s (<0.2%) and acidAcidAn acid is a substance which reacts with a base. Commonly, acids can be identified as tasting sour, reacting with metals such as calcium, and bases like sodium carbonate. Aqueous acids have a pH of less than 7, where an acid of lower pH is typically stronger, and turn blue litmus paper red...
ity (<0.45%). - Sharps This group is high in acidity (>0.45%) and low in tannins (<0.2%). The high acidity, together with that from the bittersharp group, can add 'bite' to the cider.
- Bittersweets This group is low in acidity (<0.45%) and high in tannin (>0.2%). The raised levels of tannin, which tastes bitter and is astringent, adds a bitterness to the cider. A certain amount of bitterness is expected in ciders of the West Country Style.
- Bittersharps This group is high in both acidity (>0.45%) and tannin (>0.2%).
Normally, ciders are blended using juice from several apple cultivars to give the best results. There are few varieties that will make a good cider all by themselves, Golden Russet is one such variety, and is prized in both single variety and multi-variety blends of cider.
Three apple cultivars from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
are 'Kingston Black', 'Stoke Red', and 'Dymock Red':
- Kingston Black AppleKingston Black AppleThe Kingston Black Apple is a cultivar of apple originating from the United Kingdom. It is often used in making cider. The apples are medium in size and red, despite its name....
is probably named after the village of Kingston, near Taunton, Somerset; - 'Stoke Red' is from Rodney Stoke, between CheddarCheddarCheddar is a large village and civil parish in the Sedgemoor district of the English county of Somerset. It is situated on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills, north-west of Wells. The civil parish includes the hamlets of Nyland and Bradley Cross...
and WellsWellsWells is a cathedral city and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. Although the population recorded in the 2001 census is 10,406, it has had city status since 1205...
; - 'Dymock Red' is from DymockDymockDymock is a small village in the Forest of Dean district of Gloucestershire, England about four miles south of Ledbury, with a population of approx. 300 people....
in GloucestershireGloucestershireGloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
.
The two most famous American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cider apple cultivars are Harrison Cider Apple
Harrison Cider Apple
The Harrison Cider Apple is one of the most famous 18th century American cider apples. Grown in New Jersey before and after the American Revolution, it became obsolete by the 20th century...
and 'Campfield'. They both originated in Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...
before 1776.
External links
- National Collection of Cider and Perry at Middle Farm, Firle near LewesLewesLewes is the county town of East Sussex, England and historically of all of Sussex. It is a civil parish and is the centre of the Lewes local government district. The settlement has a history as a bridging point and as a market town, and today as a communications hub and tourist-oriented town...
- Cider Apples article on the ukcider wiki