We love a bit of Scrumpy

Having been born and bred in the West Country I have to admit to being a little partial to a drop of cider. Sadly, a number of the smaller producers I grew up loving no longer exist. I have particularly fond memories of Inch's Scrumpy from Winkleigh in North Devon – a wonderful still, cloudy cider that was deceptively strong!!

I was therefore delighted when we recently took on a new addition to Muddy carrot - the multi-award winning Thirsty Farmer Cider. It is a traditional, long fermented, slightly cloudy, still farmhouse cider, similar to the one from my memories. 

The Fear family started making cider further back in time than anyone can remember from their then farm in the South West; but it was in 1880 that the first commercial batch was sold by Mr Metford Fear to a public house in Weston Super Mare and the love of making cider has been part of the Fear family ever since.

In 2005, Andrew Fear settled in Leicestershire near to possibly the only cider apple orchard in the county, and decided to produce his own brand of cider  which he called the “Thirsty Farmer”.

Since then “Thirsty Farmer Cider” has won many local and national awards including 2 Gold Stars by the Guild of Fine Food in the 2011 Great Taste Awards.

The Thirsty Farmer Cider is very popular in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, but I think the West Country has had a definite influence on this lovely Leicestershire cider.

How to make Mulled Cider

1L Cider
3 allspice berries
5 Cloves
2 Cinnamon stick
2 oranges
sugar to taste

Put the cider and juice and zest of 1 orange  into a saucepan with the spices and simmer gently for 30 minutes. Taste and add sugar if you want. 
Transfer into a large heatproof bowl with slices of orange to garnish.
A perfect warm party drink to cosy up by the fire.  Enjoy...