Cider in the Wintertime

Real Cider is a drink that can be enjoyed at any time of the year – refreshing to sip outside on a hot summer’s day, excellent for toasting the onset of the Autumn, but equally good to warm the cockles on a cold winter’s night.

One notable cider custom that appears at winter is the Wassail, which comes from the Old English phrase ‘was hael’, meaning ‘good health’. This is a ceremony traditionally performed on Twelfth Night, where a gathering of people in the orchard may perform songs and a ‘blessing’, to give thanks for the previous season’s harvest, and in the hope of securing a good apple crop the following year. Cider is poured on the roots of a chosen tree, and generally much consumption of cider and merry-making heralds the start of a new year in the cider cycle.

Thankfully the availability of real cider has improved dramatically within the Birmingham environs in the past few years, with draught Westons being generally available from all Wetherspoons outlets, and several other pubs now stocking bottled and draught real ciders alongside their range of ales. Check our website for details of pubs known to be stocking real cider in our branch area – and please get in touch if you spot any others!

But when the weather is so bad that staying indoors seems like the best option, take the opportunity to make some ‘mulled cider’ for a real winter warmer. Similar to mulled wine, there are many differing recipes for creating this drink, and you may want to experiment until you find the mixture that meets your own personal taste.

 For starters, you may want to try this easy method at home:

 Mulled Cider

-        Approx 1 litre of dry, natural cider – examples to look out for in many supermarkets and retailers are: Westons, Dunkertons, Sheppys, Co-op, Tillington Hills – or even better, buy some real cider from your local farmer’s market if possible (Birmingham Farmers market on 1st & 3rd Wed of each month stocks Norbury’s cider from Worcestershire)

 -     an orange cut into four sections, each studded with about 3 cloves

-      a cinnamon stick, broken in two

-      small piece of peeled root ginger (about 1 inch) cut into a few chunks

-      pinch of allspice

 Warm through gently in a clean saucepan, without boiling, then add sugar to taste. Strain into mugs and enjoy!

You can create your own variations depending on how spicy you like it, and nutmeg, star anise, vanilla pods, lemon peel, and a slug of cider brandy can all be added if desired. A good way to combat the chilly weather, and raise the spirits (and temperature!) until apple blossom time. 

© T McMillan  2007

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Last modified: 03/11/07