If you’re an alcohol enthusiast and have recently found out about apple cider at a taproom and were blown by it, you’re not alone. This alcoholic drink made from fermented apple juice is a global favorite, especially in the summer.
In fact, World Cider Day is right around the corner to mark the start of the apple cider season. It’s celebrated on June 3rd every year and India has a handful of cider brands that you can get your hands on to enjoy this day with your loved ones. Keep reading to know them all!
7 Best Indian Cider Brands To Try On World Cider Day
- Thirsty Fox
- Siqera
- Effingut
- Wildcraft Beverage
- Independence Brewing Company
- White Owl Brewery
- Moonshine Meadery
1. Thirsty Fox
Thirsty Fox was launched in 2019 and swiftly achieved popularity, winning ‘India Cider of the Year’ in 2020 and 2021 at the New York International Cider Competition. It’s a Mumbai-based brand that uses American apples but ferments and matures them in India. They have three flavors: Izzy, Reed, and Kipp which are gluten-free.
If you prefer your booze on the sweet side, go for Izzy. It’s a golden, punchy cider with 6% of ABV and has a note of citrus honey. The crowd favorite is Reed, a ruby red, semi-dry cider having 5.4% ABV with hints of cherry and peppercorn. Their recent launch is Kipp, a hopper cider with a bitter-sweet depth and 5.5% ABV.
Price: INR 300 to INR 350 for 330 ml
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2. Siqera
Next on the list is Siqera, a 100% homegrown brand with roots in Manesar, Gurgaon. It offers India’s first artisanal ciders and perries, including apple and mango cider. They use McIntosh apples for their apple cider which is fruity, tart, and semi-sweet with a dash of spices like pepper. It comes with 9% ABV and a sparkling amber profile.
Their mango cider is made from Alphonso mangoes, mellow and acrid, similar to the first mango of the season. It’s got a golden straw color and has 9% ABV. To make these perfect Siqera ciders, they use handpicked champagne yeast strains to ferment. You can also try their perries (pear ciders) that come in jamun and guava variants.
Price: INR 180 to INR 200 for 330 ml
3. Effingut
Quite popular for craft beers, Effingut also provides a variety of summer ciders. They have four flavors for you to choose from like apple, mango, passion fruit, and berry. The passion fruit and berry variants are their Valentine’s Special and have a mix of apple cider in them. For the apple cider, they source apples from Kashmir and the other fruits are from local organic farms.
The flavor of the apple cider is sweet, sour, and well-carbonated making it refreshing, while the mango cider has a sweet and tangy taste. The passion fruit cider is fruity, sweet, and bubbly with a strong tropical fruity aroma. Lastly, their Very Berry Cider is crisp, juicy, refreshing, and sharp.
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4. Wildcraft Beverage
Wildcraft Beverage is a family-run cidery in Mumbai that sources apples from Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh to make unique ciders. Currently, they have four ciders with 6% ABV, which are vegan and gluten-free. They source fruits from different parts of India like mangoes from Maharashtra, oranges from Nagpur, and guava from the Deccan Plateau.
Their apple cider is fruity, tarty, crisp, and smooth. Next comes the mango cider with tropical aromas mixed with fruity and sour flavors which are both refreshing and crisp. A unique variant in their kitty is Coffee Orange Cider which is rich, zesty, and refreshing. The fourth one is guava cider which is aromatic, creamy, juicy, and bold.
Price: INR 180 for 330 ml
5. Independence Brewing Company
Pune-based Independence Brewing Company has many craft beers to wow you, but their ciders are the ones stealing the show. They have two ciders, Malt Blended Apple Cider, and Malt Blended Strawberry Cider. Both these ciders have semi dry finish which makes you want more after every sip.
Their Malt Blended Apple Cider has a classic tartness and is bubbly as the apples are fermented with champagne yeast. The Malt Blended Strawberry Cider is sweet, aromatic, and balanced well with a hint of sourness. They source all their ingredients from local organic farms.
Price: INR 600 for one liter
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6. White Owl
After finding considerable success with craft beers, White Owl ventured into the cider market to try their hand at it. They came up with White Owl Ace, an apple cider that has 5% ABV. Their main ingredient, apple, is sourced from the Himalayas giving it a refreshing and smooth finish.
The flavor of this fresh cider is on the sweeter side with a hint of tartness. To make these White Owl Ace bubbly and bold, the apples are fermented with champagne yeast. It’s perfect for those who prefer their booze not to be bitter.
Price: INR 120 to INR 140 for 325 ml
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7. Moonshine Meadery
Moonshine Meadery has been brewing mead in Pune since 2018, and they also provide apple cider. They’ve named it Apple Cyder Mead which is a traditional cider prepared from Kashmiri apples, but it has a subtle sweetness from the multi-floral honey used in its making.
Their defining element is they experiment with ingredients in order to create fresh variations. Their Apple Cyder Mead is similar to regular cider, but the honey adds a dimension of flavor. It’s a gluten-free drink made by fermenting honey with a variety of fruits and spices.
Price: INR 199 for 330 ml
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Summing Up
There is quite a variety the Indian cider brands have to offer, right? To add to that, these ciders are absolutely fuzz free when it comes to food pairing. With so many varieties of ciders, would you go for an apple cider or are you a strawberry person?
FAQs
What Is The World’s Most Famous Cider?
Strongbow is the world’s top cider brand, accounting for 15% of the worldwide cider market and 29% of the UK cider market.
Is Cider Alcoholic In India?
Yes, ciders are alcoholic in India. This alcoholic beverage is prepared from fermented apple juice.
What Country Is Famous For Cider?
UK, France, South West of England, India, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are countries famous for cider.
Is Cider Sold In India?
Yes, cider is sold in India.
Which Cider Has More Alcohol?
Dry hard ciders have more alcohol than other ciders.
Is Cider Legal In India?
Ciders are legal in India, except in states where alcohol is prohibited, such as Bihar, Gujarat, Lakshadweep, Manipur, and Nagaland.
Is Cider Or Beer Healthier?
Cider’s vitamin content can benefit your general health and immune system. Though cider does include some sugar, it can have fewer calories than beer or wine. If you’re trying to cut back on empty calories, grabbing a cider may be the way to go.
What Is The Main Ingredient In Cider?
Apple juice is the main ingredient in cider which is fermented for at least three months.
