Cider is simply fermented apple juice, but some brands use bone char or fish bladder to remove and filter by-products. Avoid brands containing isinglass, gelatine (bones) or casein (milk).
Check medication before consuming elderflower or rhubarb ciders. Keep cider and all alcohol away from children and pets.
Never buy beers packed in plastic rings, they are a choking hazard to wildlife, often invisible in water. Peanut the turtle who got entangled and now has to live her life in captivity. E6PR sells biodegradable can holders to industry.
Dunkertons Organic Cider has been making cider for nearly 40 years using traditional skills. The fruit is pressed and fermented for up to a year, using apples from Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The range includes sweet and fresh ciders, Perry (made with pears) and canned and draught ciders.
Dunkertons Organic Breakwells Seedling Cider is made with the historic apple, which first was discovered over 100 years ago in Monmouth. These small colourful apples give a lovely bitter-sharp flavour ideal for making cider.
This vegan cider is ideal to enjoy al fresco on a clear summer evening, made by one of England’s top organic cider companies.
Pulp Cider is a nice brand of cider in fruity flavours. Sold in glass bottles or fridge-friendly cans, everything’s grown within 5 miles of the cider-pressing farm. You can also buy kegs for festivals and pubs. Flavours include apple, raspberry and rhubarb and there’s also a low-alcohol apple cider. Everything’s made fresh, never from concentrate.
älska Cider (Sweden) was created on a sunny terrace in Stockholm. This is a unique modern fruit cider in strawberry lime or Nordic berries (tastes like a Swedish summer – raspberries, blueberries and blackberries). Plus there are alcohol-free berry and lemon versions.
Two Farmers Cider
The company that makes crisps has recently expanded, to now offer tins of cider. The apple cider is accompanied by a no-alcohol version, and a fruit cider (made from locally harvested strawberries, raspberry and blackcurrant. Cider is a lovely drink to accompany a pack or tin of crisps.
Sustainable Vegan Cider (from Sussex)
Big Nose and Beardy is is an artisan vegan brand of sustainable cider, from Sussex. Made from waste apples at a solar brewery, these crisp ciders have strong floral notes. Everything is fermented slowly, so there’s no need for bone char or fish bladder to quicken the process.
This brand was started by two men who both had good jobs in London, and decided to move to the Sussex countryside.
There the ‘out of control hobby’ of making cider has now become a successful business. They’ve even bought a local orchard, to help store local food in the community.
You can buy mixed packs and taster gifts, and even big boxes of cider with taps (ideal for parties and weddings, once popped, the cider lasts for a few weeks) and mulling kits.
Pairing Vegan Ciders with Food
Pair ciders with salty, savoury dishes for a delightful contrast. Think vegan pizzas, spicy stir-fries, or hearty lentil-based meals. The sweetness in cider balances wonderfully with savoury flavours.
Desserts and cider are a match made in heaven. Opt for fruity desserts like apple tarts or berry crumbles. These enhance the natural fruitiness of the cider, making for a truly sweet ending.
Serve with Vegan Bangers and Mash!
Ideal with vegan sausage and mash (Quorn).
Before cooking, read up on food safety for people and pets.
