Cider - what kind of drink is this?

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Apple cider - what is it? Is he harmful? Is cider a strong drink? There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about this product, but it's not hard to sort them out.

What is cider?

Cider is a low-alcohol apple, less often pear, drink. Its strength is about 5-7 degrees. For cider, special varieties of apples are grown - sweet and sour, which contain a small amount of sugar. To date, more than 45 varieties of apples are suitable for making cider. The most famous and favorite of them: Black Kingston, Fox Cub, Yarlington Mill and many others.

This drink is based on the fermentation of apple juice without the addition of yeast. Based on fruit varieties, cider is divided into sweet, semi-sweet, dry, semi-dry and traditional. The drink has a golden or greenish color. It has an apple scent.

From the history of cider

It is still not known exactly which country gave this apple drink to all mankind. The French, Italians and Spaniards are sure that cider is their national product. There are a huge number of legends and myths about gettingapple drink.

For example, many associate it with the name of Charlemagne (VIII-IX centuries), who, according to legend, accidentally sat on a bag with overripe and softened apples, which caused them to be crushed. This is how the first cider came about. It is also believed that King Arthur and the navigator James Cook took on board their ships a solution closely resembling cider as a cure for scurvy.

Most historians still believe that cider is the drink of the inhabitants of Scandinavia. The Celts were sure that he endowed a person with beauty and he alth and was delivered from the lands of eternal youth. People believed in the healing properties of this drink so much that they not only drank, but also washed their bodies with it. From the 14th century, newborns were baptized in churches in apple drink, believing that it was much he althier and cleaner than water. Respect for cider came in the 14th century, at the same time that John Wycliffe wrote The Cider Bible.

With the creation of the press (XIII century) and the beginning of the breeding of new types of apples, the production of cider became more modern. Guillaume d'Ursus developed new varieties of apple fruits that tasted much more sour and contained more tannin. The blending of different varieties of apples also made it possible to create new varieties of cider. Thanks to this event, they began to treat him more attentively. In 1855, the personal physician of Charles IX issued a treatise describing the medicinal properties and characteristics of cider, as well as methods and technologies for its production.

The first written mention of this drink is seen in the writings of Pliny. He described how the inhabitants of the valleysthe Nile River in the XIII-XV centuries BC liked to drink a drink obtained as a result of the fermentation of apples.

But during the numerous wars, cider lost its popularity, apple orchards were destroyed. However, in the 18th century, he regained his popularity among Bohemians.

This drink is believed to have a subtle philosophy. Undoubtedly, cider is alcohol, but if it is properly prepared, it cannot intoxicate.

Recipe for making cider at home

Apple drink can be prepared by yourself in your home kitchen. It is not difficult and accessible to everyone. So, homemade cider - what is it? How many degrees does it contain? First you need to understand the process of its preparation.

1. First of all, you need to finely chop apples of different varieties (or use a combine to turn them into gruel), before that, cutting out the cores and removing the seeds. It is important that the fruits are clean, without rot and blackening. Apples are not recommended to be washed, unless, of course, they are very dirty, as the peel contains bacteria that help fermentation.
2. The fermentation vessel must be rinsed with warm water and dried. Fill the vessel with fruit by one third (a little more is possible). Leave free space in the container for the formation of foam and carbon dioxide.
3. For every kilogram of apples, 100-150 grams of sugar is added. The resulting slurry must be thoroughly mixed.
4. Then you need to tie the neck of the jar with gauze and leave the container in a dark, dry and warm place for about 3-5 days. Content Neededstir occasionally.
5. When a pungent smell, foam and hiss appear, you can safely proceed to the next step in making cider. Squeeze the juice from the resulting mixture through a sieve or clean gauze and pour into a jar (or other convenient container). Then you need to install a water seal on the vessel. You can also put a rubber glove on the neck instead of a water seal.
6. Future cider should ferment for 45-70 days in a dark place at a temperature of 18-26 degrees. After the allotted time, sediment will begin to appear at the bottom of the jar, and thanks to the glove, the bubbles will remain inside the vessel. The drink will begin to noticeably lighten.
7. At this stage, it is necessary to filter the apple drink again, preferably through several layers of gauze.
8. The final step involves pouring the cider into cans or bottles, sealing it tightly with a cork or rolling the lid. Now it remains only to wait. After about 3 months, the cider will mature and be ready to drink.

The result should be a fragrant honey-colored drink. If the cooking technology was correct, then homemade cider contains about 6-7 degrees. This drink is very easy to drink. It doesn't cause a hangover. 100 ml of cider contains approximately 115-120 kilocalories.

This cider recipe is relevant in Russia, but the French and the British, for example, like to make cider without adding sugar or yeast. The drink is natural and perfect for those who like sour taste.

Benefits of cider

ManyThey think that cider is beer. But as soon as a person tries a well-prepared apple drink, his opinion will change dramatically. He will be able to answer the question of cider - what kind of drink is it.

Since ancient times, according to written sources, people used cider as a cure for scurvy and gout. Today, doctors also believe that this tasty drink in moderation is very useful for humans. It helps to cope with diseases of the stomach, removes stones from the kidneys, helps to lose weight, noticeably slows down the aging process, removes toxic substances from the body, which is very useful for digestion and normalization of metabolism and pressure, increases appetite.

Spas today also use cider in their baths. And clients see the result immediately: the skin becomes much softer, velvety, more tender, completely “young” wrinkles are completely smoothed out. Isn't this happiness for women!

Contraindications and harm of cider

Cider is a drink containing alcohol. Its consumption in large quantities will be harmful to he alth.

Like all alcoholic beverages, cider is not recommended for mothers-to-be, breastfeeding women, or people with hepatitis, pancreatitis, intestinal or stomach ulcers. For such patients, doctors recommend limiting the use of cider or abandoning it altogether, since in these diseases this apple drink can lead to poor he alth. If you are trying it for the first time, be careful. In this case it's not worthconsume it in large quantities, as individual intolerance to the components that make up the drink may occur.

How to drink cider correctly

Real gourmets believe that cider, like any alcoholic drink, has its own technology of proper use, which you need to know in order to taste the whole bouquet and feel the aroma.

Many people call cider a foamy drink, but if you pour it into a glass, there will be no foam, because it melts instantly. To prevent this from happening, you need to pour it according to the rules.

First, you need to lift the bottle of drink as high as possible above the glass (1 meter is the ideal distance). It is necessary to pour so that the jet of drink breaks against the walls of the glass. As a result, the cider will begin to foam, and it is at this time that you need to have time to drink it before the foam disappears. Many advise to drink the drink in one gulp.

Secondly, in order to feel all the notes of apple flavor, experts definitely recommend drinking chilled cider.

Thirdly, it is advised not to finish drinking it to the end, as a small sediment remains on the bottom.

How to serve cider drink

Cider glasses are completely different. For example, in England and Germany, ordinary beer mugs are used for an apple drink. And in France they prefer wine glasses. In Normandy and Brittany, considered the birthplace of cider, ceramic bowls are used for this invigorating drink.

What is better to use assnacks?

Real gourmets choose special snacks for each sort of cider. For example, fish, hare and poultry meat, and beef are well suited for a dry variety. Traditional cider reveals its taste well in combination with cheese, game meat. In Normandy, cider is enjoyed with fresh seafood. But one thing is for sure: fruit pairs perfectly with cider.

How to choose a quality cider in the store

Reading the label, you can immediately understand whether it is a good cider. A well-made apple drink should not contain yeast, flavorings and dyes. In no case should it be sweet and contain extraneous flavors uncharacteristic of an apple.