New production potential in new varieties of apples can bring cider production
With the recent use of a state law lifting the ban on domestic cider production, Athenian Brewery was the first to take the initiative by building the related plant in Patras, with a planned production commencement in February 2019.
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
This, although the apples’ imports need to continue as raw material, inevitably gives rise to the start of apples’ crops so that cider can gradually be produced by Greek apples.
In the future, if the conditions allow, cultivating the specific variety of cider apples needed for production could also give a boost in Greek agricultural production.
All what remains to be studied is how Greek Farmers who cultivate apples can take advantage of this opportunity at the commercial level and successfully manage to cultivate these particular varieties in Greece, since, according to the figures, the local consumption of cider in 2017 is rising rapidly, making it the most competitive product next to other alcoholic beverages.
The particular apples’varieties for cider production come from a special set of varieties grown specifically for this case (referred to in the United States as "hard cider"). They differ from the rest in texture and taste, as they are a bit bitter and “dryer” than the normal apples.
In the United Kingdom, they are classified into four main types depending on the nature of their ingredients and their flavour. In France and Spain, on the other hand, there is another type with regard to the UK classification, called “acidulee” or “acidulada”. In the United States, the classification was based on both the above characteristics and the geographic areas where they are grown.
However, in general, the best known and good varieties are almost twenty in number, with almost half of them grown in the United Kingdom. In Europe the best known variety is bittersweets and bitterharps with high presence of tannin in the apple, quite suitable for cider drink.
Cider has been and still is one of the favorite drinks in America and the United Kingdom. Note that in the United Kingdom there has been a long tradition of cider production and consumption since the year 1066 AD, where 50% of world consumption, estimated at 3.5 million hectoliters, is currently made in that country.