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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Jon Ungoed-Thomas

English craft cider producers demand the same protection as champagne

Cider apple harvesting in Somerset
Cider apple harvesting in Somerset. Such orchards are in danger of vanishing from the British landscape. Photograph: Neil Phillips/Alamy

From the crab apples pressed during the Roman conquest to the Kent orchards planted during the reign of Henry VIII, the making of British cider is one of the country’s finest heritage assets. So much so that craft producers are now demanding protection from modern commercial ciders with added water and fruit flavourings which they say are undermining the reputation of the traditional products.

They say leading supermarket brands such as Strongbow, Frosty Jack’s and Kopparberg cider may contain more added water than apple juice. They are calling for new regulations as part of the government’s review of alcohol duty.

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