Make your own cider

People have been drinking cider for thousands of years in many parts of the world. Only nine years after first landing at Plymouth in 1620, European colonists planted apple trees in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In Colonial America, cider was the most common beverage, and even children drank it in a diluted form. In many places, the water was not safe to drink and most homesteads had an apple orchard. Pressing and fermenting fresh apple juice was the easiest way to preserve the large fruit harvest. In rural communities, taxes, wages and tithes were often paid in cider.  (from Washington State University Extension; the History of Cider)

You may have heard or read about Johnny Appleseed. His real name was John Chapman. He was born in Massachusetts on September 26, 1774. The apples that he planted could not be eaten, because they were very tart. They were mainly used to make cider and applejack. Applejack is an alcoholic drink from fermented cider. (from the New World Oxford dictionary)

The real person, John Chapman, strategically planted many apple orchards in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania and in Canada. He was a wise businessman who believed in animal rights and disliked cruelty toward any living thing. He sold or gave away thousands of seedlings to pioneers. He did not randomly throw apple seeds around, as is often depicted in the folklore of Johnny Appleseed. He wore raggedy clothes and often didn’t wear shoes.

(from Britannica, Science & Tech, Johnny Appleseed, September 22, 2023 and biography.com, March 26, 2021)

You can read more about Johnny Appleseed here:

https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Johnny-Appleseed/624787

Apples are nutritious.

Apples are delicious.

So don’t be suspicious,

You can be ambitious and make this recipe.

Homemade Apple Cider Recipe for Kids from Kidstir

You can make your own apple cider. It’s easy and fun. Please get an adult to help you.  Just click on this link:

https://kidstir.com/kids-recipes/apple-cider/