Who invented apple cider

Because apples can grow easily by grafting branches onto existing apple trees, colonial New England quickly fell in love with cider. This cider was boozy, making it safer to drink than much of the water available and full of nutrition to get them through the hard winters.

The orchards he planted across the United States were originally intended for cider suppliers, not pie bakers. Waves of immigration from Germany and eastern Europe over the years brought a deep love of beer and settled in the Midwest—a region much more friendly to growing grains and hops than the Atlantic coast.

The biggest blow came in the form of Prohibition, which wiped out nearly all American cideries for decades, LeHault writes. But true to its deep roots, ciders are starting to make a comeback in bars around the country, making this hardy drink a serious survivor.

Danny Lewis is a multimedia journalist working in print, radio, and illustration. Stewart, A. Williams, D. Blackburn-Maze, P. The Apple Book. Blades, F. Copas, L. The Dovecote Press Ltd. Jolicoeur, C. Lea, A. Proulx, A. Storey Publishing, Pownal, VT. Watson, B. The Countryman Press, Woodstock, Vermont. The alcohol content purified the drink, killing off unwanted bacteria known to grow in water, making it much safer to consume. It was easy to store for short periods and the lower alcohol content of cider made this an ideal alternative.

Plus, the pleasant taste made this drink popular with everyone, even the children. Cider is by far still the most popular drink in England today. Cider was such an everyday item in life that the earliest settlers brought the practice with them to America. Since the safety of drinking water was still a concern in early America, cider continued to be the best choice. Early settlers also believed cider could aid and prevent many illnesses.

Many credited cider with living a long lifespan. It was also used to help keep warm during the brutally cold winters. John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, believed that the best apples were grown directly from seed to tree.

John collected seeds from Pennsylvania cider mills and began distributing them across the west, where he established nurseries in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. He also distributed them to many settlers far and wide. Cider in America suffered tremendously during prohibition, as many orchards were burned to the ground by staunch advocates.

After the repeal, cider never recovered. Many turned to other beverages of choice, and apples were now being planted for direct consumption, rather than cider making. Many of the heirloom varieties used for cider making died off.

Hard craft ciders vary in appearance and color. They range from pale golden color to deep golden amber. They can range anywhere from sweet to dry and in between. Because craft ciders are a handmade product, not on a massive scale, they can tend to have some cloudiness to them at times.