Photo courtesy of Simply Cider Presses Ltd
In the midst of all our fall celebrations, it’s hard not to come across apple cider! It’s the iconic fall drink, don’t you think? Especially living near a farm, our little town gets super excited this time of year- mainly because of the prospect of fresh apple cider! (And thus fresh apple cider donuts and all the other delicious goodies they can create!)

And yet, what’s the difference between apple cider and apple juice? They look similar, and frankly- depending on the specific brand, they even taste similar! So how exactly do these two things differ?

One difference is the process undergone for each drink. Apple juice tends to be a little more filtered and is pasteurized to help it last longer. Apple cider will often have pulp and is usually a much stronger flavor. If we want to get really technical, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources defines cider as "raw apple juice that has not undergone a filtration process to remove coarse particles of pulp or sediment." This also means that apple cider will not last indefinitely in your fridge- maybe 2 weeks. Basically, it’s a much stronger and rawer version of apple juice!

Another difference can be the timing of when the apples that are juiced are actually picked. Cider apples are typically some of the first picked in the season. Another difference might simply be the labeling! Apple cider sounds so much more refined and cozy than apple juice, right? It’s not uncommon for a simple apple juice to be labeled as apple cider simply because it sounds better (Martenellii’s is an example of this! What adult wants to drink from a fancy looking bottle labeled apple juice, compared to a bottle more elegantly labeled as apple cider? Those marketers know what they’re doing!).

A great way to recognize the legitity of the apple cider you want to buy is to simply check the ingredients list. It should be short, without added coloring and sugar. Look for words like unpasteurized, raw, and unfiltered. Also, pay attention to the look of the liquid itself. A good cider will be cloudy, possibly with sediment at the bottom, compared to an apple juice that is more clear. You can also be more assured of the quality of the cider you’re buying based on where you’re buying it! Your local farmer is more likely to have a good quality cider than your local chain grocery store!

In summary- apple juice and apple cider are pretty similar, but there is a definite difference. Knowing these subtle differences can help you find the best cider this time of year so you can really enjoy those true fall flavors!