We have been drinking cider for over 2,000 years, but when did the bottle of cider as we know it start to be used?Ethnographer Inaciu Hevia Llavona, author of reference about cider and traditional cidermills and awarded in 2012 with the prize Fierro Botas for his essay “La Botella de Xixon. Orígenes y desendolcu hestóricu…
Categoría: Asturias
HOME DELIVERY CIDER/ Sidra a domicilio
The new COVID-19 regulations do not allow us to meet at cider bars. But if you miss our traditional drink, you should know it can be delivered from Asturian cidermills straight to your door. Choose your favourite and order now! Las nuevas normas derivadas del COVID-19 no permiten que nos reunamos en sidrerías. Pero si…
POURING DEVICES/ Aparatos escanciadores
It seems obvious that they cannot replace the art of pouring as an ancient rite in Asturian cider drinking, but we must admit mechanical and manual pourers are here to stay. Parece obvio que no pueden reemplazar el arte del escanciado como rito ancestral en la forma de beber la sidra asturiana, pero debemos admitir…
CIDER CRAFT/ Artesanía sidrera
There is one thing about cider: it is not only related to drinking, but also to living. In that sense, we can find different retailers and craftsmen devoted to the creation of all kinds of cider stuff. From cider pourers and bottle openers to jewellery and miniatures. Here you can discover some of the cider-related…
INTERNATIONAL ASTURIAN CIDER POURING CHALLENGES/ Retos internacionales de escanciado de sidra asturiana
There is a new cider challenge in progress. It is called the #LongPourChallenge and has been started by Bristolian cider expert Gabe Cook, The Ciderologist. It consists of pouring cider from a height, in the traditional Asturian way, and nominate some people to follow the challenge. As I see it, these games are perfect to…
DECALOGUE OF THE CIDER POURER/ Decálogo del escanciador
Pourers must observe an upright, but not rigid posture. 2. The arm which holds the bottle must be stretched up above the head. 3. The arm which holds the glass must be stretched down to the centre of the pourer’s body. 4. The bottle must be held with the index, middle and ring fingers in…
NEW CIDER STAMPS & POSTMARKS/ Nuevos sellos y matasellos sidreros
The Spanish Postal Service will dedicate a miniature sheet to cider and broad beans, two of the Asturian landmarks, as part of the “Gastronomy, Protected Designation of Origin” series. It will be released on 20th March with a 3-euro face value. Envelopes with the postmark of First Day of Emission will be presented at noon…
EDIBLE CIDER/ Sidra para comer
Nowadays, there are many ways to enjoy cider, not only by drinking it. It is obviously not the same, but loads of products are offered to please the sweet-toothed people’s palate. Villa Melba, Aramburu, Don Ramiro and La Fabariega, which uses cider from Los Gemelos cidermill, offer their artisan apple and natural cider jelly. Cider…
CIDER THROUGH MEMORY/ Sidra en el recuerdo
Sparkling or champagne cider is not new in Asturias, as it started being produced in the XIX century to be exported in overseas trade. And, though some of the best known brands are still active, like El Gaitero or Mayador, some others are in our memories in the form of beautiful old advertising, both in…
CIDER BETWEEN TWO SPRINGS/ Sidra entre dos primaveras
The cycle of our most typical drink takes place during the months between two springs. Once the pumares (apple trees) blossom, the process culminating with the tasting in the llagar (cider press-house) or chigre (cider bar) starts. Before pouring a culín (glass of cider), the following must happen: PICKING: Pañar the apples. The picking season…
THE CONVIVIAL MEAL, A COMMUNAL RITE/ La espicha, un rito colectivo
Espichas, or convivial meals in Asturias, are ritual celebrations when the cider barrel is opened, after an approximately two-month aging. Once a small hole is opened in the barrel, cider is tasted and then, it is plugged again with a wooden spiKE called espicha. This is from which this tasting action takes its name and,…
THE CIDER BAR, A MEETING POINT/ El chigre, punto de reunión
The chigre, formerly named after a utensil found in ships to bail water, is the device which, attached to a wall, includes a very powerful corkscrew to open cider bottles. It became a successful tool in cider bars so, extensively, they were named chigres and their owners, chigreros. Nowadays, there are nearly 7,000 premises selling…
Ciderayalga 