Apple Juice or Cider »
I know, I'm running the risk of turning into a beverage blog. I'll try to keep things under control so everyone doesn't have to update their blogroll categories. But this was just too important not to share.
I've finally found someone who has gone on the record to explain the difference between Apple Juice and Apple Cider. Okay, I could probably have found this through Google if I wanted. It wasn't that high of a priority.
In a nutshell, Apple Juice is filtered, and thus generally appears clear. Apple Cider, on the other hand, is typically not filtered. Unless of course you live on the West Coast, in which case they likely call both the filtered and the unfiltered varieties Apple Juice. Will they ever do anything normal out there? And for the record on this, I lived on the West Coast for a dozen or so years, so I can say things like that.
It also appears that Apple Cider - at least East Coast Apple Cider, since it apparently doesn't exist on the West Coast - often needs refrigeration. I guess that it requires a higher level of heat to become completely pasteurized, and thus safe to store without refrigeration (prior to opening, of course). Aren't you relieved to know the difference? I know I am.
Comments (8)
I might be a strange european, but over here the main difference is that apple cider is a fermented product, and therefore contains alcohol.
This is like comparing grape juice with wine...
Posted by Jeroen | November 10, 2004 10:21 AM
Ah yes - in the US (I think both parts actually, and probably even the middle), that's called "hard cider", clouding the issue even further!
Posted by Chad Everett | November 10, 2004 10:29 AM
The difference has always been apparent to me... cider is the cloudy, home-grown type stuff that farm stands sell, or that you can buy in the produce section of a grocery store. Juice is the processed, clear stuff that kids drink in their juice boxes, or the stuff that Ocean Spray or Veryfine would sell in the 'juice' aisle of the grocery store. This has been my experience both back in Ohio and out here in Mass. I don't remember ever having Cider when I lived in San Diego, and I don't remember ever seeing it on other visits to the west coast... but doing a search for 'california cider' seems to turn up more of the 'hard cider' variety...
Posted by Peter | November 10, 2004 11:54 AM
Thank you for explaining this to me. I work in a grocery store and every year people ask me this question....now I can answer them correctly. Heh.
Posted by Lanie | December 13, 2004 4:46 PM
I was jsut searching for the difference (living in Italy, I can't find cider, and wanted to maked mulled cider this year). Anyway - the west coast (Washington at least) makes the best cider! When I was growing up, we used to go to a tree farm for our Christmas trees, and it had a cider mill there, and we bought cider fresh off the press cider.
I don't know why you can't find info on cider for the west coast. I know it is there. We always had it. And it was normal. ;o)
Posted by Sara | December 18, 2004 6:06 PM
This is interesting. Does anyone know where I can purchase unfiltered apple cider by mail or by go there.I have a wonderful bread recipe that calls for this as well as cider vinegar. KP
Posted by Ken | December 25, 2004 2:50 PM
go to www.martinellis.com to order their unfiltered apple juice.
Posted by Jim | December 25, 2004 8:28 PM
Sorry, you're all wrong...Actually, half-right. The deal is that cider is different depending on what part of the country you're in. In the Midwest, it's just a difference in dialect, like "pop" vs. "soda," so there is no difference in substance. On the East Coast, cider is indeed the unprocessed, unfiltered "sludge," whereas juice is the filtered, clear stuff. On the West Coast, apple cider is the tarter, more acidic juice pressed from early harvest apples, whereas the sweeter, more refreshing variety, apple "juice," is made from much riper apples.
Posted by Jeffy-poo | January 1, 2007 7:26 AM