Always look on the bright CIDER life - Your Cider Questions Answered

What is Cider made of?

Cider is a fermented alcoholic beverage made from the unfiltered juice of apples. Cider alcohol content varies, generally, between 3% and 8.5%, but some continental cider goes to 12% alcohol. In UK law, it must contain at least 35% apple juice (fresh or from concentrate).

FACT: 56% of the apples grown in the UK are used to make Cider

Is Cider good for you?

Apple cider contains polyphenols, which are compounds in plants that act as antioxidants. They can help the body to fight against free radicals and cell damage, lowering your risk of certain types of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Polyphenols also help to ease inflammation in the body

FACT: Cider apples ate high in dietary fibre, vitamin C, carotenoids. Carotenoids are known to protect against disease and illness

Who invented Cider?

There is evidence that Celts in Britain made cider from crab apples as long ago as 3000 BCE, but the Roman invasion introduced apple cultivars and orcharding techniques to England

FACT: In the 14^th century babies were baptised in Cider until the church banned the practice.

How do you drink Cider?

Most craft cider producers advise you not to drink ice cold cider. The sweet spot for enjoying craft cider is 50 to 55 degrees, though with the dry, tannic ciders, we even like them closer to room temperature.

FACT: Farmworkers wages were historically paid by 4 pints of Cider a day.

Is Cider always made with Apples?

Only fermented apples and pears may be labelled cider, according to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. If a bottle does not contain apple or pear cider, and is more than 7 percent alcohol, it must instead be labeled “fruit wine.” That's one reason so many flavors are being added to basic apple cider. 

FACT: There are approximately 350 varieties of cider apples in the UK

Why is Cider popular in the UK?

The Little Ice Age and Wine Wars - This drop in temperature killed off grapes throughout the UK as the climate became too hostile for the heat-loving vines. Apples, however, were able to survive these cooler temperatures, and so cider became even more firmly cemented as the leading beverage in the UK

The Lowdown on Darley Abbey Cider

Darley Abbey is one of our key cider suppliers. Based in Derbyshire. The Cider is made wholly by using donated apples, Darley Abbey don’t own a single tree. A proportion is paid back to the contributors.

The cider is available in 3 types in 12 bottle boxes and also a mixed selection which includes a mixture of bottles subject to availability.

Dry Cider, Fruit Cider, Sweet Cider or a mixed case of them all. Great cider from an independent producer, what more can you ask for, well here's a few more words:

“Darley Abbey Cider from Derbyshire is made using a single year's harvest of over 30 varieties of locally grown apples. All apples are hand-picked and pressed during the autumn then left to mature into a deliciously crisp, clear and refreshing cider."

Dry Cider 5%, 330ml - lightly carbonated dry apple bottled cider 

Sweet Cider 5%, 330ml - lightly carbonated sweet apple bottled cider 

Fruit Cider 5%, 330ml - lightly carbonated fruit bottled cider.  Fruit cider is infused with summer fruits giving a subtle sweet and tangy flavour. 

Order your Darley Abbey Selections here