Months of hot weather have produced a record-breaking year for apples in the UK, with the harvest coming in bigger and earlier than ever. That means it’s also going to be a record-breaking year for cider.
According to the National Association of Cider Makers, the warm summer has also delivered apples “full of rich flavours and natural sweetness, perfect for cider making”. In orchards across the UK, boughs are breaking under the weight of the ripening fruit. Thatchers Cider has begun its earliest apple harvest in the company’s 121-year history. At Sandford Orchards near Exeter, they’re installing extra tanks to keep up with production.
