Refresh Your Taste Buds This Dry January With Thatchers Zero

Keen to try a refreshing alternative this Dry January?

Let Thatchers Zero Cider, the UK's #1 alcohol-free apple cider,  refresh your taste buds.

An alcohol-free cider with body, smoothness and character, Thatchers Zero has a crisp, medium dry character and a fruity aroma. This Somerset cider retains the taste and character of a true cider but without the alcohol.

It's the first choice for those who don't want to compromise on taste and enjoyment when opting for alcohol-free.

Crafted using a selection of their favourite bittersweet apple varieties at their mill in the heart of Somerset, they make sure their alcohol-free Zero quenches the thirst for drinkers who want a premium experience, delivering on taste and enjoyment.

Thatchers has been crafting ciders since 1904. Four generations later, they're still independently owned and family operated, with a passion for making the best quality ciders sustainably, always putting their heart and soul into their ciders.

Low and no drinks are now part of regular drinking occasions, and as the UK's #1 alcohol-free apple cider, Thatchers Zero can quench the thirst all year round for those looking for a premium low or no cider.

At Thatchers they've worked very hard to create a 0% cider that delivers on taste. And the result? Thatchers Zero is creating huge interest from drinkers who recognise Zero can provide the social enjoyment but without the alcohol.

Like all other ciders in their range, Thatchers Zero is gluten free and is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Sunshine and Showers is the Ideal Combination of Sun and Rain for the Perfect Apple Harvest at Thatchers Cider

For the next several months the orchard team at Thatchers Cider will be working very hard, harvesting the apples for pressing into their beautiful ciders down at Myrtle Farm.

The mix of abundant sun and rain throughout Spring and Summer has been really beneficial to the apple trees. 

The fruit is looking healthy and plentiful, containing just the right balance of acidity and sweetness to press into the perfect cider.

As always, amongst the first apples to come into the mill are their deliciously rosy Katy apples.

Chris Muntz Torres, their farm manager, who looks after their 500 acres of apple trees in and around Myrtle Farm, says, “The good weather in Spring meant our apples got off to a good start with an effective pollination thanks to our amazing bees. In fact, our Katy apples have developed so well we've been harvesting them a few days earlier than in previous years.

“After Katy, towards the end of September, we'll begin to see the early bittersweet apples ripening, such as Somerset Redstreak, Gilly and Hastings. They'll benefit from the sunshine and warmth we're now experiencing, cider apples love a mild autumn to help them ripen slowly and develop their unique flavours."

He went on to say: “With the sun ripening the apples and helping boost the fruit's natural sugar levels, the recent rain has also been feeding the trees and giving them much needed nourishment. Importantly, the warmth of the sun helps develop the tannins in our bittersweet varieties, giving depth and body to our ciders.”

In fact it's been a pretty near-perfect year for the apples. Apple trees always need a spell of cold weather to break their dormancy over the wintertime, and at the beginning of the year we had sufficient low temperatures to reset growth and wake up the trees. This was followed by a period of warmer weather and plenty of moisture in the deep, rich Somerset soil to allow the trees to do their very important work. 

Chris continues, “At Myrtle Farm the signs are really good for a bumper harvest this year. That's both in terms of quantity, and just as importantly, quality, meaning the very best, tastiest apples in our ciders.”   

Thatchers has apple orchards throughout the West Country of England. Here apples are grown for their range of Somerset ciders. 

Thatchers are one of the few cider makers to have a regular orchard planting programme, allowing them to meet the increasing demand for their ciders, as well as working with apple growers throughout the entire region who provide specific apple varieties under long-term partnerships.

One of the important things they look at when planting new trees is the timing of harvest, to make sure that the arrival of apples is spread out throughout the season.

“We press our apples as soon as they arrive at the farm to capture them at their freshest. So having different varieties that ripen at different times allows us to have a continued supply of fruit from August through to November,” he concluded.

With the weather conditions in Somerset providing a perfect climate for apple growing, it's not surprising that the county has become the home of cider making, with Thatchers seeing record sales to help it become the UK's fastest growing cider maker.

https://www.thatcherscider.co.uk

Clearspring Pledges 30k of Free Plant-Based Meals to Mark 30th Anniversary

Leading Japanese and organic fine foods specialist Clearspring is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and has teamed up with their long-term partner, plant-based community cookery school and food charity Made In Hackney, to donate 30,000 free plant-based meals to communities who are in need. 

Made in Hackney, which are celebrating their own 10th anniversary, will work with Clearspring to donate products and cooked meals to families and individuals who have emergency support needs.

Sarah Bentley, founder of Made in Hackney said: "Made In Hackney and Clearspring believe everyone should have access to high quality, healthy food that's good for people and the planet. Clearspring have supported our community cookery classes, meal service and fundraising activities with their incredible products for many years. 

"We're really pleased and delighted to partner with them now to provide 30,000 free plant-based meals to households with food support needs as part of Clearspring's 30-year anniversary."

Maria Dawson, who's the MD at Clearspring commented: “Reaching 30 years as an independent family business is a really great achievement to celebrate. We wanted to use this opportunity to make a concerted effort to give back to the community with our pledge to donate 30,000 free plant-based meals.” 

Alongside the food donation pledge, Clearspring will also be fundraising throughout the year to support the important work Made in Hackney is doing. Clearspring will also partner with other organisations including City Harvest, who help to distribute food to over 350 local charities offering food support to local communities.

Maria Dawson went on to say: “We also wanted to say thank you to everyone who's helped us reach this 30-year milestone. Thank you to the brilliant Clearspring team, the fantastic organic and Demeter certified farmers and artisan food producers, the committed wholesalers and retailers who stock our products and the loyal shoppers who choose to add Clearspring to their baskets every day. 

"Please know that your continued support is helping us realise our dream to create a more sustainable future and is enabling us to work and play to convert one more acre back to organic each day.”

Clearspring was founded in 1993 by award-winning organic Japanese and plant-based foods pioneer Christopher Dawson. Originally from New Zealand, he came to London to study organic and biodynamic farming and subsequently set-up and ran his own health food shop, East West Natural Foods, in London back in 1977.

Christopher decided to move to Japan in the 1980s to further his understanding of organic agriculture and made the country his home for the next 18 years, working with local artisanal producers to convert and comply with international organic standards. Clearspring was created as a way to help the producers he worked with share their unique traditional and organic products with a global audience.

From humble beginnings offering Organic Japanese Miso Soups, Teas and Tamari, Clearspring now offers a vast range of over 300 products across 30 categories, including Japanese specialities, Tofu, Seasonings, as well as European cold pressed oils, vinegars, snacks, purees, pasta and pasta sauces. All Clearspring products are plant-based, refined sugar free and made without the use of artificial additives or ingredients. Clearspring is available in over 60 countries around the world.

 You can find out more about the fundraising and food donation campaign by visiting https://www.clearspring.co.uk/blogs/news.