Join James Crowden as he embarks on a journey to distil the origins of England's most ancient drink, uncovering a rich culture and philosophy that has united farmer, maker and drinker for millenia. Cider has been at the heart of English country life for hundreds of years. But the story of how this drink came into existence and why it became so deeply rooted in the nation's psyche has never been told. In order to answer these questions, James Crowden traces a history stretching back to the ancient civilisations of Central Asia and the Mediterranean, locating the paradise apple before it landed on Western shores. After its arrival in England, the exotic fruit was first embraced by Monastic communities; monks were some of the earliest cider makers and planted some of the oldest orchards. But the English love-affair with Cider fully blossomed after the reformation, when the thirst for knowledge about the drink was at its peak. The English Cider drinker has never been far from...




Join James Crowden as he embarks on a journey to distil the origins of England's most ancient drink, uncovering a rich culture and philosophy that has united farmer, maker and drinker for millenia. Cider has been at the heart of English country life for hundreds of years. But the story of how this drink came into existence and why it became so deeply rooted in the nation's psyche has never been told. In order to answer these questions, James Crowden traces a history stretching back to the ancient civilisations of Central Asia and the Mediterranean, locating the paradise apple before it landed on Western shores. After its arrival in England, the exotic fruit was first embraced by Monastic communities; monks were some of the earliest cider makers and planted some of the oldest orchards. But the English love-affair with Cider fully blossomed after the reformation, when the thirst for knowledge about the drink was at its peak. The English Cider drinker has never been far from...