| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Tharg drinker of cider
Cider Bus Convert
Borneo
184 Posts |
 Posted - 06/12/2004 : 14:07:24
|
Another reason for supporting traditional craft cider makers: I recently read a report that listed some of the lengths that the larger commercial cider makers go to. I'll have to find the report, but the gyst of it was, that cider makers should declare what goes into their product. As you probably know, cider contains things other than apple juice. For example: sodium metabisulphate is used to control rogue yeasts, sugar is added to sweeten things up a bit. Sometimes, artificial sweeteners are added (and should be declared on the bottle or can). But the biggest problem is water. People may add water to "thin" a cider that's too strong - nothing wrong with that - but this report suggested that some commercial ciders consisted of 20% juice, 10% concentrate, and 70% water. Little wonder that most of it tastes so bad. Perhaps cider manufacturers should follow the rest of the food industry, and tell us exactly what they put in it?
And you will know us by the trail of empties.... |
|
|
Gents
HMZ God
Trinidad and Tobago
2214 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2004 : 14:44:49
|
i have read stuff to that effect before, the thing that surprises me most about those figures is that there is as much as 20% juice in some of these ciders!!
Now most of us have made our own cider we know first-hand just what the juice of cider apples tastes like, so can all vouch that the big commercial ciders taste nothing like it! Its just not apple juice.
I would be really interested to read the report if you find it and can post a link Tharg.
Cheers.
ZIDER! |
 |
|
|
Ivanhoe Martin
Cider Bus Convert
Oman
273 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2004 : 14:41:37
|
I read something similar (summary of various reports) over the weekend in a good book (by Fiona Mac) called "Cider Making in the Three Counties". Juice figures of between 10 and 30% were mentioned as typical for most commercial "ciders".
It also had the details for the study that did analysis on the health giving properties of cider (antioxidants, vitamins, etc).
It also had an address for the Campaign for the Revival of Wassailing. I'll drop them a line Tharg, but if we can get some tunes to go with the songs, and a bit of an enthusiastic posse of wassailers, I really fancy doing it in London in Jan. Have any of you HMZ boys been wassailing?????????? |
|
|
|
Tharg drinker of cider
Cider Bus Convert
Borneo
184 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2004 : 15:34:29
|
That's a splendid idea, I'll give Emma a shout at Surrey Docks city farm, we can go and sing at her trees. (And dink lots of cider too!)
And you will know us by the trail of empties.... |
|
|
|
Ivanhoe Martin
Cider Bus Convert
Oman
273 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2004 : 16:32:48
|
And you know that I really want to wassail the electric tree at More London.
(In fact, I've just googled it - couldn't find a picture - and so I sent a msg to the artist and asked him to send me a picture and whether he'd like to come wassail his own tree. Will let you know if we get any response)
|
|
|
|
Gents
HMZ God
Trinidad and Tobago
2214 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2004 : 16:39:14
|
We have never properly been Wassailing, there seems to be a strange lack of places around our way that bother with it (or at least advertise they do to outsiders!). However Im all for reviving the tradition, and we attempted to do our bit last year by marking the occasion with a cider-crawl around Bristol (we were supposed to sing wassailing songs during this, but i left the 30 wassailing songsheets on the printer at work which must have confused a few people, so we sang Wurzels songs to make up for it). Im sure we will do something this year, which may co-incide with the HMZ Cider Awards unveiling.
Which day do you class as Wassailing Day?? I think popular opinion is that its 17th Jan (old 12th night) rather than 5th Jan like some seem to think. Just been searching for Wassailing events for next year and found this thing in London that involves some version of Wassailing which you may be interested in: http://www.thelionspart.co.uk/projects/twelfthnight.htm
ZIDER! |
|
|
|
Tharg drinker of cider
Cider Bus Convert
Borneo
184 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2004 : 16:50:43
|
Excellent - it's in SE1
Although I think we should organise our own too.
And you will know us by the trail of empties.... |
|
|
|
Ivanhoe Martin
Cider Bus Convert
Oman
273 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2004 : 17:03:27
|
Thanks for the link Gents. Looks good (even if it doesn't really mention cider, and is a bit early in the year). I reckon go there, drink some cider (BYO Manucube) and nick a few tunes; then sort our own one later with more concentration on cider, fire , and guns .
I can find plenty of songs, but what tunes were you planning to sing them to Gents? Would be most grateful for any suggestions on that score.
|
|
|
|
Gents
HMZ God
Trinidad and Tobago
2214 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2004 : 17:10:48
|
And don't forget toast too! (i cant believe we havent got a smiley that features toast!)
To be honest i don't think we ever had any idea what the tunes to the songs we found were... i never even considered it. Perhaps you could make up your own, or sing the words along to the tune of some popular hits which will at least allow everyone to join in?!!?!
ZIDER! |
|
|
|
Ivanhoe Martin
Cider Bus Convert
Oman
273 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2004 : 09:59:40
|
OH YES!!!!!
Girls Aloud Wassailing mix
That's inspired, Gents! |
|
|
|
Gents
HMZ God
Trinidad and Tobago
2214 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2004 : 10:16:34
|
Ive just found this page that appears to have some MP3 files you can listen to: http://www.stonecreed.org/songbook/yule/wassail-songs.html (i can't try this out on my work PC cos access seems to be blocked).
I did try putting some popular tunes to the words, but im struggling to get past the Wurzels at this stage, i think its because of the similar lyrical content.
ZIDER! |
|
|
|
Ivanhoe Martin
Cider Bus Convert
Oman
273 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2004 : 16:23:01
|
Thanks Gents. I'll try them at home (can't listen to sounds here either). We can gather together the paper, comb, and spoons, and huddle round the PC for warmth.
(I've just looked to remind myself. Joss Stone isn't all that) |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
The great cider rip-off
