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History of Cider Timeline
(c. 3000 BC – Present)The history of cider traces the evolution of fermented apple juice from ancient civilizations through medieval Europe to today's global craft beverage industry. Cider played a significant role in agriculture, economy, and culture, particularly in England, France, Spain, and colonial America. More Less
Early History
Charlemagne orders cider production on his estates
800
In the 9th century, Charlemagne, in the Capitulars, ordered skilled brewers (the Sicetores) to always be present on his estates to make him ale, 'pommé' (pomacium), perry and all liquors liable to be used as drinks. He also ordered an expansion of apple tree planting in what is now Northern France.
Saxon wassail toast tradition
1066
By the time of the Norman Conquest of 1066, the idea of cider was certainly present in England, using crab apples. The word 'Wassail' derives from the Saxon phrase 'wæs hæil', said by Saxons as a toast at Yuletide.
Image source: Wassail
Cider more common than wine in Galicia
1100
In 12th-century Galicia, cider was said to be more common than wine, reflecting a strong early cider tradition in northwestern Iberia that continues today in regions like Asturias and the Basque Country.
Wace first uses 'cidre' for apple beverage
1130 - 1140
The specific meaning 'fermented beverage from apples' appears in Old French for the first time by the Norman chronicler Wace around 1130/1140 in his work Conception de Nostre Dame.
'Cider' appears in Middle English
1200 - 1300
The word cider is first mentioned in Middle English in biblical use as sicer or ciser ('strong drink', 'strong liquor') in the 13th century, and later as sither(e)/cidre meaning 'liquor made from the juice of fruits', evolving to mean a beverage made from apples in the 14th century.
Image source: Cider
European Cider
Portuguese cider surpasses wine
1000
Cider was once very popular in northern Portugal where its production was larger than wine production until the 11th century, though its popularity has since decreased and it is now mostly consumed along the coasts of Minho, Âncora e Lima as a refreshment.
Apple growing along Norwegian fjords
1200
Apples have been grown along the fjords of western Norway since the 13th century, and cider production has a long history along Hardangerfjorden and Sognefjorden.
Basque cider culture flourishes
1400
Cider has also been popular in the Basque Country for centuries, with sagardotegiak (cider houses) forming an important part of local culture and cuisine, especially in Gipuzkoa.
Txakoli and Rioja wines gain popularity in Basque region
1800 - 1899
While Txakoli and Rioja wines became more popular in Biscay, Álava, and Navarre during the 19th century, there remained a strong Basque cider culture in Gipuzkoa, where cider houses continued to thrive.
Norwegian cider production thrives
1890 - 1920
Norwegian cider production thrived between 1890 and 1920 along the western fjords, but political regulations and the introduction of Vinmonopolet in 1921 reduced commercial production significantly.
Key Facts
- Apple cultivation and early fermentation began as far back as 3000 BC in Mesopotamia, though dedicated cider production likely emerged later among Celtic peoples in Europe.
- After the Norman Conquest of 1066, cider became firmly established in England, with monasteries producing it extensively on their apple orchards.
- In the 17th century, English settlers brought cider apples to North America, where cider became the most popular beverage in colonial America, often safer than water.
- John Chapman, known as 'Johnny Appleseed,' spread apple seeds across the American Midwest in the early 19th century, primarily supporting cider production rather than eating apples.
- The Temperance movement of the late 19th century devastated American cider production by cutting down orchards, but a craft cider revival beginning in the 1980s–1990s has restored its popularity worldwide.
Source
This History of Cider timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.
We work hard to keep these timelines accurate, but mistakes do get through. If you spot one, email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it for future visitors.
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