History of Cider
10,000BC +
Wild apples originate in Central Asia and spread throughout Europe – our native crab apples
5000BC
The ancestor of modern, domestic apples moves west from the Tien Shan mountains with traders along the Silk Road
1000BC
Hebrews drink ‘shekar’ and Greeks drink ‘sikera’
1000BC – 50AD
Evidence suggests that Celtic Britons were making and drinking a primitive form of cider from crab apples
50 AD
Romans invade Great Britain, bringing with them their domestic apple varieties and orchard techniques
400AD – 1066
The Middle Ages prove a quiet time for cider, with much knowledge and understanding of apples and cider lost
1066
After the Invasion, the Normans brought over superior, high tannin cider apples, improved orcharding and advanced pressing technology
1120
10 acres of orchards recorded in Nottingham
1270
Cider making recorded in Yorkshire, Hampshire and Sussex
1320
The Church felt it necessary to warn people not to baptise their children with cider
1420
The Wycliffe ‘Cider’ Bible is published. It gets its name owing to the translation of the verse, ‘For he (John the Baptist) shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor cider’
1632
Christopher Merret delivers a paper to the Royal Society detailing his experiments of fermenting cider in strengthened bottles, a method popularised in Champagne, but crucially, 6 years before pioneer Dom Perignon was even born!
1656
King Charles I drank cider in preference to wine
1664
John Evelyn’s Pomona is the first countrywide account of cidermaking practices. He also noted,’ Generally all strong and pleasant cider excites and cleanses the Stomach, strengthens Digestion, and infallibly frees the Kidneys and Bladder from breeding the Gravel Stone’
1763
Lord Bute’s Government introduces a tax on cider leading to ‘cider riots’ in the West of England. It also led to the phrase ‘an Englishman’s home is his castle’, coined by William Pitt the Elder, describing the layman’s right to protect his private property from entry by the tax man
1880s
True commercial cider production begins. Producers begin to purchase apples and make cider for sale, rather than for the farm
1887
Truck, the practice of part payment of wages for farm labourers with cider, is officially deemed illegal, but continues well into the 20th century. Up to 8 pints a day were on offer for the best workers!
1920
National Association of Cider Makers is founded
1945 – present
Cider making and orchard management techniques improved to increase yield and consistency to match increasing consumer demand
1976
Cider Duty is reintroduced
2006
Cider renaissance well underway, supported by new branding, advertising and changing consumer trends
