11 Things You Haven't Thought to Add to Your Apple Cider (2024)

FAQs

How can I improve my cider? ›

Many cidermakers will boost the character by adding sugars like maple syrup or brown sugar. This will boost alcohol level and add a hint of molasses as well. Winemaker's acid blend (or malic acid) available at your local homebrew shop is a great way to add some complexity to hard cider that lacks that crisp bite.

If you want to venture outside of traditional cider adding different fruits can be a great way to customise the taste to your preferences. Berries are a popular choice, adding strawberries with a squeeze of lime is said to be the perfect addition for a Summer BBQ.

Mixing a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a cup of water, a squeeze of lemon juice and a teaspoon of honey creates a tasty, sweet drink. You could even add a pinch of cinnamon for extra flavour or add more honey to make it sweeter! (Make it a teaspoon of Manuka honey, and it'll be even better!)

Traditionally cider is spiked with dark spirits, like the rum and bourbon in the recipes above. But what if you want something a little lighter? Vodka can do the trick. Since it doesn't contribute much in the way of flavor, we add fresh ginger for its distinctive, peppery-sweet flavor.

Combine classic warming spices like clove, allspice and cinnamon in your cider for an especially autumnal treat.

At least a week before bottling, add ¼ teaspoon potassium metabisulfite per 5 gallons and ½ teaspoon potassium sorbate per gallon to prevent re- fermentation. An alternate method to stop re-fermentation is to heat to 120ºF (stir constantly) and cool.

Acidity is what makes a lemon taste sharp: in cider brewing, sharp equals acid. A sharp edge is key to a good cider flavour, and acidity is important for good fermentation: if it's too low, your brew will be susceptible to fermentation "diseases". If the brew is too acid, the resulting cider will make you wince.

So look for a non fermentable sweetner and add to taste. Or, you can add sugar at the time of drinking. It's best to make up a sugar syrup using 1 tablespoon of supermarket granulated sugar and 25ml of boiling water. Put them in a glass and stir until dissolved.

Enhance Your Cider with Fruit. Using fruit other than apples in hard cider is common and adds great additional flavor. Some of the more common fruit selections are pear, cherry, peach and pineapple. Other options include mixed berries, blueberry, mango, blackberry.

Is it better to drink apple cider vinegar at night or morning? ›

While apple cider vinegar may offer some health benefits, there is a lack of research on consuming it before bedtime versus at other times like the morning. That said, to avoid side effects like indigestion or acid reflux at night, consume it at least 2-3 hours before bed.

Combining baking soda with apple cider vinegar is touted to help alkalize your body and prevent diseases that thrive in acidic environments.

Apple pie, caramel flan, and fruit tarts are all great desserts to pair with cider. The fruity and sweet flavors in the desserts complement the fruity and sweet flavors in cider. The acidity in cider also helps to balance out the richness of desserts, making them one of the best food pairings for cider.

The researchers found that participants who took apple cider vinegar not only lost more weight than those who took a placebo but also had lower triglycerides and total cholesterol. The people who took apple cider vinegar also had significantly raised levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.

Each 5° of specific gravity is equivalent to about 1% Alcohol (ABV). To raise the gravity by 5° add about 10g of sugar per litre of juice. i.e. 10g of sugar in one litre of juice will give a potential alcohol increase of 1%.

Back sweetening reduces perceived sourness, bitterness and saltiness, but may take time to blend in and not give a “raw” impression of unfermented sugar or juice. Higher carbonation adds carbonic acid to the cider, which gives a “bite” to the finish and can help balance sweetness.