Fresh apple cider (unfermented juice) can start fermenting on its own, because yeasts are naturally present on the fruit and equipment. It turns fizzy and slightly alcoholic, and sealed containers can build pressure. Pasteurisation, preservatives and cold storage slow this down. If a fizzy juice worries you, don't drink it.

Do cideries use local apples?

Many cideries use local apples, but not all. Farm cideries often press fruit from their own or nearby orchards, and some laws and protected names require it, such as New York's farm cidery license and Traditional Welsh Cider. Other makers buy juice or concentrate from elsewhere, which UK law allows, so check the label or ask the maker.

Do ciders have hops?

Most ciders don't: traditional cider is made from apples or pears without hops. Hopped cider is a specialty style in which hops, usually added after fermentation, give floral or citrus aromas. BJCP lists hopped cider under Spiced Cider, while in the UK hops are not on HMRC's list of permitted ingredients for cider duty.

Does cider contain sulphites?

Cider can contain sulphites (sulfites in US spelling), used to control unwanted microbes. Labels must declare them above 10 mg per litre in the UK and EU, and from 10 parts per million in the US under wine or food labelling rules, depending on strength. If unsure, check the label or ask the maker.

Does cider contain yeast?

Cider is made with yeast, which turns apple sugar into alcohol, but how much yeast is left in the bottle depends on how it was finished. Filtered or pasteurised ciders contain little or no live yeast, while unfiltered and bottle-conditioned ciders can contain yeast and sediment. Check the label for "unfiltered" or "bottle-conditioned".

Does cider have caffeine?

Regular cider has no caffeine. USDA nutrition data list 0 mg of caffeine in hard cider, because it is made from fermented apple juice. A flavoured cider could contain caffeine only if an ingredient such as tea or coffee is added. Check the label, and note that the FDA has warned against caffeine added to some alcoholic drinks.

How many calories are in apple cider?

Apple cider, meaning fresh non-alcoholic cider, has about 46 calories per 100 g, or about 114 calories in an 8 fl oz cup, according to US nutrition data. Nearly all of the calories come from the apples' natural sugars: about 24 g of sugar per cup. Alcoholic hard cider is different and is covered separately.

How many calories are in cider?

A pint of 4.5% cider has about 216 kcal, according to Drinkaware, and USDA data give about 200 kcal for a 12 fl oz can of hard cider. Alcohol has 7 kcal per gram and sugar 4 kcal per gram, so stronger or sweeter ciders have more calories.

How many units are in cider?

The number of units in cider depends on its strength and amount: by the NHS formula, units = ABV × millilitres ÷ 1,000. A pint of 5.2% cider is about 3 units and a 440 ml can at 5.5% is 2.4 units. The UK guideline is not to drink more than 14 units a week regularly.

Is cider beer?

No, cider is not beer: cider is fermented from apple (or pear) juice, while beer is brewed mainly from malted grain. In US federal law, cider is classed as a wine, and hard cider has its own wine tax rate; in UK duty law, cider is a separate category from beer. Cider is often served alongside beer.

Is cider gluten free?

Cider made from apples is gluten free, according to Coeliac UK, which lists cider among the alcoholic drinks suitable for a gluten-free diet. Flavoured or blended ciders can contain other ingredients, so check the label for allergens such as barley or wheat. If you have coeliac disease, follow your doctor's or dietitian's advice.

Is cider good for you?

Cider is an alcoholic drink, and health bodies do not treat alcohol as good for you. WHO/Europe says no level of alcohol consumption is safe for health, and the NHS advises adults not to drink more than 14 units a week regularly. Cider also contains sugar and calories. If you have health questions, ask a doctor.

Is cider vegan?

Many ciders are vegan, but not all. Some cider makers clarify cider with fining aids of animal origin, such as gelatine or isinglass, and some flavoured ciders contain honey. Fining aids usually do not appear in the ingredient list, so look for a vegan statement on the label or ask the maker.

Is mulled cider alcoholic?

Mulled cider is alcoholic only if it is made from alcoholic cider. In the UK, mulled cider is usually alcoholic cider heated with sugar and spices. In the US, "hot mulled cider" is often made from sweet, unfermented apple cider, so it can be alcohol-free. Ask, or check the label: if alcoholic cider went in, treat the drink as alcoholic.

Is sparkling cider alcoholic?

Usually, yes: in the UK and most of Europe, sparkling cider is an alcoholic cider with bubbles. In the US it depends, because "cider" can also mean apple juice, so some sparkling ciders are non-alcoholic. Check the label: an alcohol percentage, or in the US the government health warning, shows that it contains alcohol.

What does cider mean?

Cider means a drink made from apples, but the meaning depends on where you are: in Britain it is an alcoholic drink of fermented apple juice, while in the US "cider" often means fresh, unfermented apple juice and the alcoholic kind is called hard cider. The word comes from Latin sicera, "alcoholic drink", via French.

What is alcohol-free cider?

Alcohol-free cider is cider from which the alcohol has been removed. In England, government guidance says "alcohol free" should be used only for such drinks at no more than 0.05% ABV, "de-alcoholised" at no more than 0.5%, and "low alcohol" at 1.2% or below. Rules differ elsewhere, so check the ABV on the label.

What is sweet cider?

In the US, sweet cider is fresh, unfermented apple juice, so it has no alcohol; fermented cider is called hard cider there. In the UK and most other countries, "cider" always means the alcoholic drink, so "sweet cider" means an alcoholic cider with a lot of sugar left in it. Check the label for the ABV.

What is the difference between cider and hard seltzer?

Cider is fermented apple or pear juice; hard seltzer is usually carbonated water, flavouring and alcohol from fermented sugar or malted barley. In US nutrition data, hard cider has more sugar and calories than hard seltzer per 100 g. In the US, cider is a wine for federal purposes, while hard seltzer is usually classified as beer.

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.

What is the difference between cider and wine?

Cider is fermented apple (or pear) juice, while wine is fermented grape juice. UK duty law sets cider below 8.5% ABV, and BJCP's standard cider styles run from 3% to 9%. US federal law, however, classifies cider as a wine made from apples.

Why does cider give me a headache?

Cider can give you a headache mainly because of the alcohol: it causes mild dehydration and is a common headache trigger, especially when you drink too much. Other substances formed in fermentation, called congeners, may make hangover symptoms worse, and some people are sensitive to sulphites. If headaches are frequent, talk to a doctor.

Cider basics