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Ahhhhhh… Autumn. John Keats called it the “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”, and here at Lyme Bay Drinks it’s all about one of our favourite fruits: the apple.
For those of us with our feet planted here in England’s green and pleasant land, it’s the apple in all its flavour varieties that often takes centre stage in our festivals and feasts at this time of year. From crumbles and pies, to home-made juice and sauce, if you’re a fan of apples there are plenty of gastronomic creations to tempt your tastebuds.
And then, of course, there is traditional English cider. The UK has the highest per-capita consumption of cider of any country in the world and the West Country has a proud cider tradition, so it’s no surprise that premium English ciders are part of our award-winning range at Lyme Bay Drinks.
Cider and food pairings
Although many people are wedded to pairing wine with their food, we are big believers that there’s a cider to match every palate, occasion and dish. From traditional dry ciders to sparkling, fresh and fruity varieties, there’s a premium English cider to complement every culinary choice – and cider’s lower ABV makes it a lighter alternative to wine. If you are wondering where to start, here are some of our suggestions…
Pork
With Jack Ratt Vintage Dry Cider
Whether you choose chops or plump for belly, pork and apples are a match made in heaven. The tartness of the apples balances the sweetness of the meat, and the acidity of apples helps us digest the fattier meat. Swap out your traditional apple sauce for a chilled glass of our still, full-bodied Jack Ratt Vintage Cider.
Seafood
With Jack Ratt Vintage Sparkling Cider
Seafood always goes well with sparkling wine. As a general rule of thumb, the richer the dish, the more bubbles you want in your drink. The long, smooth finish of our dry Jack Ratt Vintage Sparkling Cider with its rich, apple tannin aroma cuts through creamy seafood pasta dishes, and makes a quirky complement to fish and chips.
Strawberries
With Annings Pear and Mint Cider
Strawberries are in season until September, giving you plenty of time still to get your fill of this sweet and delicious fruit. Why not whip up an Eton mess or a strawberry tart and serve with a glass of our refreshing Annings cider with pear extract and garden mint, over ice.
Cheese boards
With Jack Ratt Cyser
For those of you who eschew all things sweet in favour of a bounteous board groaning under the weight of multiple cheeses, we recommend our Jack Ratt Cyser.
A first in its field, traditional scrumpy cider meets sparkling mead for a crisp honey and apple combination that pairs perfectly with a West Country cheeseboard and a generous dollop of tangy apple chutney.
Order online for drinks delivery
If you’ve never tried our ciders, or are already a die-hard fan, you can find out more about our entire range here.
You can head to our online Winery shop or place your order with our friendly team here at the Winery via email at [email protected] or by calling us on 01297 551355 if you’d like to order by phone.
You can also see all our drinks in real life at our Winery shop so do pop in if you are passing. In the meantime stay in touch with us via our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages, and send us suggestions for your favourite food and cider pairings.
