History of Cider in Herefordshire
Throughout Herefordshire there is a strong tradition of farm cider-making.
Farmers produced cider to be drunk by the farm labour force during the following
year, especially at the busy times of hay-making and harvest. Farmers used to
sell cider to local pubs and cider merchants for re-sale in towns.
For 350 years cider production in Herefordshire has been on a rollercoaster,
periodically rising to become an industry of great reputation. Throughout this
time Herefordshire has been the major player in cidermaking in Britain and Herefordshire
people have led the way. There is no better place to find out about cider.
Cidermaking is an agricultural industry which has proved especially attractive
at times of depression. Cider fruit keeps and its appearance and size are of no
importance. Cider production is an activity for the slack months at the year end
and orchards are useful for other farming, for instance grazing stock. Herefordshire
bacon was reputed to taste especially fine! Look
at the Cider Timeline
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