December 6, 2023 - 5:34pm
What do they mean when they say "natural yeast"?
Drinking a lovely cider (hard cider for those in the USA) from Sheppy's Cider Farm in Somerset (cider country), UK. It is 7.4% ABV, oak matured, vintage cider. Sold by Marks and Spencer. It is delicious!
When reading the bottle it says.... "British bittersweet cider apples are pressed and fermented using the natural yeast and slowly matured in oak vats".
Ingredients: Apple Juice, Water, Sugar, Carbon Dioxide, Acid: Malic Acid, Preservative: E223 (Sulphites), Yeast.
So it is a natural yeast yet it is listed as an ingredient. Are they saying they grow 'wild yeast' and then add it? Or are they saying the yeast comes with the apples but it is listed as an ingredient because it is present?
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But what threw me was them listing yeast as an ingredient. Naturally fermented apple juice is very tasty!
Thank you.
I don't know about UK labeling regulations, but in the US if they truly just mashed some apples and let them ferment they wouldn't need to declare yeast as an ingredient. It does make me wonder if they have a yeast culture that originated from apple skins. One way or another, their marketing doesn't seem to match their ingredient statement, but if the ingredient in question is just yeast and it tastes good, I can't say I fault them.
It's natural yeast but propagated like a starter which is then added to the must. Think i'll ask them out of curiosity.
Makes me wonder about the malic acid too… natural in the apple or added?
Propagating a natural year culture and adding malic acid makes sense as it likely enables a more consistent product.
Curious, but doesn't really matter, though, if the cider is good. :)
But whatever the case it - it tastes good! I like tartness in the cider and that fact it wasn't too sweet being medium dry.