Fall is on its way, and a
favorite fall drink has just arrived! Apple cider will be available at the
Fresh Gatherings’ Harvest Market this week, and to celebrate, here are some
interesting facts about it!
- Apple cider is the official state beverage of New Hampshire.
- Farm workers’ wages in earlier times included four pints of cider a day.
- At one time, 365 different varieties of cider apples were grown.
- Over two million new cider apple trees were planted between 1995-2006.
- In 1664 John Evelyn wrote, “Generally all strong and pleasant cider excites and cleanses the Stomach, strengthens Digestion, and infallibly frees the Kidneys and Bladder from breeding the Gravel Stone.”
- Fresh cider is raw apple juice that has not undergone a filtration process to remove coarse particles of pulp or sediment. It takes about one third of a bushel to make a gallon of cider.
- Cider makers tend to blend different varieties of apples for the best taste based on their sweet or tart characteristic. Different cider makers have different recipes depending on the apple varieties used. Apples are washed, then chopped into a mash and then squeezed or pressed to get the maximum amount of juice from the pulp.
And for when those crisp fall days start coming our way...
Mulled Apple Cider Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 gallon apple cider
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 whole allspice berries
- 2 whole cloves
- 1 orange, thinly sliced
- Place all ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to a simmer on the grates of a grill or over a burner. Divide among individual mugs and serve hot.
- Note: to keep it warm through the day, make in a slow cooker and keep on low. Feel free to play around with the spices to find your signature taste!
Recipe courtesy of foodnetwork.com
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