This film is part of Free

Pressing Cider in Illminster

Cider is a pressing concern in Ilminster

Current affairs 1984 2 mins

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Overview

A traditional cider press scrats or shreds and then presses crushed apples or pears releasing the juice from the solids and creating a fine pulp or pomace akin to must in winemaking. The pulp is transferred to the cider press and built up in layers known as cheeses until it forms a block. It is the juice released from the second pressing that ferments and turns into cider.

The apple juice is left to ferment using the natural yeasts in the juice. Somerset is renowned as the county for apples and cider production. Cider apples are usually smaller and more bitter than sweet apples and can be particular to the county. Cider apple varieties carry names such as Sweet Reinette, Red Cluster, Granville and Chibble’s Wilding in Somerset. Illminster is the home of Perry’s Craft Cider and the county produces many different ciders and apple juices. Cider production has witnessed a revival and most producers have opened their doors for visits culminating in tastings. The nickname for the Somerset County Cricket team is the Cidermen.