Cider apples

Cider apples are cultivars of apples grown specifically for cider production rather than fresh eating. They are prized for high tannins, acidity, and complex aromatics that give cider its characteristic body, bitterness, and astringency. Orchards manage these varieties for juice yield and flavour maturity rather than dessert-apple appearance, accepting russeted or misshapen fruit that would never sell fresh. Blending bittersweet, bittersharp, sweet, and sharp types lets cider makers craft balanced, distinctive drinks, and the classification of each variety guides how it is used in the blend.