What is the difference between cider and mead?
Cider is fermented apple juice, while mead is made by fermenting honey. A drink made from both is a cyser: BJCP defines it as a mead made with apples or other pome fruit, such as pears. If only a little honey is used, BJCP treats it as a cider instead.
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Key differences
- Main sugar source. Cider is the fermented juice of apples; perry is made from pears. [1] Mead is made from honey; BJCP's traditional meads "are fermented from honey and water with no additional adjuncts or additives, other than common flavor-neutral processing aids". [2]
- The overlap. BJCP: "A Cyser is a melomel made with apples (generally unfermented cider, but can be a must from table or cider apples) or other pome fruit (pears, quince)." A melomel is "a mead made with fruit". [3] [4]
- UK duty. Cider is fermented apple or pear juice under 8.5% ABV. Drinks that are not beer, cider, wine or spirits fall under "other fermented products". [5] Honey is not on HMRC's list of permitted sugars for cider. [6]
- US labels. A cider flavoured with honey cannot be labelled simply "cider"; it needs a statement of composition. [7]
When does cider with honey become mead?
BJCP draws the line by how much the honey shows. Its 2025 cider guidelines say: "Honey additions generally result in either a C3C Experimental Cider, a C4D Experimental Perry, or an M2A Cyser." [1] For cyser, its 2026 mead guidelines say "Examples with a relatively low honey character may be evaluated better as a C3C Experimental Cider". [3] These are competition guidelines, not law; what the bottle may be called is set by the rules where it is sold, as above.
How do cider and mead taste?
Cider's flavour comes from the apple: acidity, tannin and residual sugar, as described in the guide to types of cider. In a cyser, BJCP says "The fruit character should be harmonious with the base mead, and not seem solely like a cider", and "should be noticeable and balanced with the sweetness level of the mead". [3] For the drink in between, see the glossary entry for cyser. For the other comparisons, see cider vs wine and is cider beer.
Can I make cyser at home?
The process is the same as for cider, with honey added to the juice before fermentation; how to make cider at home covers the basic steps. Home production rules depend on the country.
Related answers: cider vs wine · is cider beer
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Cider, perry, calvados and pommeau are alcoholic drinks. Enjoy responsibly and follow the legal drinking age where you live.
Questions
What is cyser?
A mead made with apples. BJCP's 2026 mead guidelines: "A Cyser is a melomel made with apples (generally unfermented cider, but can be a must from table or cider apples) or other pome fruit (pears, quince)." [3] See the glossary entry for cyser.
Is cider with honey still cider?
Sources
- 2025 BJCP Cider Style Guidelines (Introduction) — Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP)
- 2026 BJCP Mead Style Guidelines: M1 Traditional Mead — BJCP
- 2026 BJCP Mead Style Guidelines: M2A Cyser — BJCP
- 2026 BJCP Mead Style Guidelines (PDF) — BJCP
- Alcoholic products technical guide: section 2, alcoholic products — HM Revenue & Customs (GOV.UK)
- Permitted ingredients for cider duty — HM Revenue & Customs (GOV.UK)
- Cider FAQs — Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)