Is apple cider fermented?

In the US, apple cider usually means fresh, unfermented apple juice; hard cider, and what the UK simply calls cider, is fermented. Yeast converts fruit sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Accidental fermentation of fresh juice is covered in can apple cider ferment itself.

Updated 2026-10-05

Key facts

UK sense. Cambridge: British cider is "an alcoholic drink made from apples". [1]
US senses. Merriam-Webster lists fermented apple juice and fresh expressed juice. [2]
Process. Yeast ferments juice sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide under cider-making practice described in BJCP guidelines. [3]

Is cider fermented?

When cider means the alcoholic apple drink, fermentation is the defining step: pressed juice, yeast and time until the desired strength and dryness. Timing varies with yeast and temperature — see how long to ferment cider. Commercial outlines sit in how cider is made. Fresh US apple cider on a juice shelf is not fermented unless it has turned hard.

Can fresh cider start fermenting on its own?

Wild yeast can start a ferment in untreated juice. Safety and storage for that case belong to can apple cider ferment itself.

How do hard cider and sweet cider differ?

Americans often call the fermented drink hard cider and the fresh juice apple cider or sweet cider. Detail: what sweet cider is and English vs American cider.

Guide: what is cider. Glossary: hard cider.

Related answers: can apple cider ferment itself

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Cider, perry, calvados and pommeau are alcoholic drinks. Enjoy responsibly and follow the legal drinking age where you live.

Questions

Is British cider fermented?

Cambridge defines British cider as "an alcoholic drink made from apples". [1]