apple juice

[jeromeserena]

hi all
new to all this so forgive if i ask somthing silly.
have searched forum but can not find the answer.
have made a kit of cider and it is in the keg.
i want to make some from juice wich i intend to bottle.
i was in tesco. apple juice value range in cartons on the shelf 56p litre.
in chill cabinet 76p litre both from concentrate.
can i use the cheapest or is there a differance, could not see if there where any preservative in the cartons.
what do you think?

 

[RobWalker]

It just needs to be free from preservaties, except for vitamin c which is fine. There isn't a huge difference because fermentation burns off a lot of the flavour and goodness you associate with cheap and good apple juice. Individual brands do give different flavours, maybe someone can recommend a cheap brand from experience. Mine is bubbling away from cheap asda juice as we speak.

 

[graysalchemy]

I have used asda and Aldi both 56p.

To make a good cider from carton juice you will also need to add malic acid at 1 tsp per gallon and tannin at 1 tsp per gallon and if you want clear cider 1 tsp of pectolase. Also using cider yeast is best. Once it is fermented it is best leaving it for 2-3 months as this will improve the flavour immensely. If you don't you will have a rather insipid flavourless drink rather like cheap white cider, a shadow of what it could be if left. Cider undergoes chemical changes when it matures giving it most of its flavour.

:thumb:

 

[oldbloke]

If anybody does know the difference between the two juices I'd like to hear it.

In 2 minutes I've thought of:
From different concentrates
Different dilution levels from one concentrate
Different levels of pasteurisation
The chiller one isn't pasteurised
One's pasteurised, one's homogenised
A cynical marketing ploy

 

[jeromeserena]

with ref to the malic acid.
the recipe i have does not have it, i looked it up and it says gives a crisper taste which i would like.
the recipe i have says add yeast nutrient pectolase and a very strong cup of tea (i take it that is the tanin)
will it be ok to add the acid or should i follow recipe

 

[RobWalker]

well, it gives a crisper taste, which you would like - so yes! :p
Tea is indeed for the tannin. I use powdered tannin, either are good. It adds a bit of bite to your cider.

 

[jeromeserena]

thanks for that will put it in
didnt know if it would react with other ingredients and do nasty things

 

[RobWalker]

nah, you're all good. if you do make cider from apples, you need crabapples - the small ones - to add the malic acid in, as not enough is found in the larger ones. it's completely beneficial to add it!

 

[graysalchemy]

Once you have added it you need to mature it for 2-3 months to get the benifit. It will under go malolactic fermentation and look as if it has gone off but trust me it will be fine.

:thumb: