What would a comparison of apple cider vs apple juice look like? Is there even a meaningful difference between the two?
If you have a preference between apple cider and juice, you might be quick to note a difference. As it turns out, the difference between these two beverages can be quite substantial or nothing at all, depending on where you live!
Let’s get this mystery decoded.
Apple Cider – It’s Story And Secrets
Apple cider has a long history, with its use dated to as far back as the Roman Empire. It’s suggested that Romans first found cider in Britain in 55 BC and it became popular throughout the empire.
Eventually, the drink made its way to America, where the colonialists were having trouble brewing beer. Apples, on the other hand, took well to New England soil and were easy to grow. The small alcoholic content of cider also made it safer to drink and the beverage continued to rise in popularity.
America’s most famous apple farmer Johnny Appleseed (Chapman) originally had his farms targeted towards cider suppliers!
Times changed, and eventually, waves of immigration and changes to agriculture (Midwest) made it possible to brew beer in America. With more options for alcohol and beverages available, cider’s popularity started to wane.
Then came prohibition – and this is the important part! It pretty much wiped off cideries and sent the conventional apple cider to the nadir of irrelevancy. The little that remained also changed the way America sees apple cider.
Any trace of alcohol disappeared from apple cider. Modern apple cider became “unfiltered apple juice”. While hard cider now represents the traditional cider, i.e. the one with alcohol content. Modern apple cider is apple juice before pulp and sediment are filtered out.
It is due to this close relationship that apple juice can basically be an apple cider alternative for most recipes, and vice-versa.
American Apple Cider Versus The World!
Keep in mind, the change in apple cider post-prohibition is relevant to the USA and to some degree, Canada. For most of the world, the old definition of apple cider still holds. It is expected to have some alcohol content.
In the UK, for example, apple cider implies the use of fermented apples and by extension, alcohol. The American-style apple cider here would simply be apple juice. Since it’s unfiltered, it may be called cloudy, unsweetened, or unfiltered apple juice.
Apple Juice – Where It Stands
Everyone knows what apple juice is but as it turns out, it is the definition that clears the path for a better understanding. Apple juice undergoes filtration to remove sediment, pulp, and similar elements. It is clear and has a very different appearance as compared to apple cider.
Considering its use, apple juice is always processed and pasteurized. This allows it longer shelf life, assuming the package is unopened and stored properly.
Apple juice is almost transparent, sweeter, and has a different texture than apple cider. Some part of this is due to the pasteurization process, where heat causes a change in color and texture. The removal of sediment, pulp, and fibers leaves behind a product that’s decidedly sweeter than apple cider.
Manufacturers or producers may add sugar to apple juice during this process. However, even unsweetened apple juice will be sweeter than cider.
Salient Points That Differentiate Apple Juice And Cider
Filtration
In conventional terms, this is perhaps the biggest difference between apple juice and cider, as they’re available in the USA. Apple juice is usually filtered to remove “impurities” like pulp and sediment.
Pasteurization
Pasteurization and proper packaging help extend the shelf-life of food products. The apple juice you usually get from the store will have undergone pasteurization and proper packaging.
Some apple cider is pasteurized. Plenty of lovers of this beverage don’t quite seem to enjoy the taste pasteurization brings to the table. Without pasteurization, the product will have a very limited shelf life. Taste aside, there are health risks associated with unpasteurized products. So, the FDA has made it necessary to add warning labels to unpasteurized cider.
If you’re buying fresh apple cider and can trust the hygiene in its production, you could ignore the pasteurization status. However, health concerns would dictate favoring pasteurized products.
Marketing
Here’s something most of us never think of – manufacturers labeling their products to suit their convenience! While we can discuss apple cider vs apple juice differences in plenty of detail, their resemblance and similarity aren’t something to ignore. Many manufacturers can find ways to use the label they find most convenient.
Consider the famous seller Martinelli’s. The company states that their apple juice and cider are essentially the same product, just with different labels! Their product list includes apple juice, apple cider, and unfiltered apple juice, among others.
The Alcohol Content
In the USA, apple cider doesn’t have any alcohol content. Cider with alcohol is classified as hard apple cider.
For most of the world, though, apple cider does contain alcohol due to the fermentation of apples.
Globally, apple juice doesn’t contain any alcohol.
So Is There A Clear Difference?
As you might have noticed in this article, the line between apple juice and cider is often blurry. In fact, there might not be any line at all except a label! It is possible to rely on conventional definitions though, if only for the sake of clarity. Apple juice is clear and has a sweet taste. Apple cider contains pulp and sediment, giving it a cloudy appearance. It has a sweet, though somewhat tart taste.
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