{{Short description|Alcoholic drink from Canada}} {{Infobox beverage | name = Quebec cider | image = 200px | caption = | type = | abv = | proof = | manufacturer = | distributor = | origin = Canada | introduced = | discontinued = | colour = Yellow | flavour = | ingredients = | variants = | related = | website = }} '''Quebec cider''' (also known as '''''cidre du Québec''''' in French) is crafted in the apple-producing regions of Montérégie, Eastern Townships, Chaudière-Appalaches, the Laurentides, Charlevoix and Capitale-Nationale, in Canada. The revival of cider is a relatively new phenomenon, since Quebec's alcohol regulating body, the ''Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux'' began issuing permits to produce craft cider only in 1988.<ref name="Historique"/> In 2008, some 40 cider makers were producing more than 100 apple-based alcoholic beverages.<ref>ACAQ. "[http://www.cidreduquebec.com/Route.htm La Route des cidres…suivez le guide!] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080819203702/http://www.cidreduquebec.com/Route.htm |date=August 19, 2008 }}", in the site of the ''Association des cidriculteurs artisans du Québec'', accessed November 25, 2008.</ref>
In addition to alcoholic varieties, Quebec has a robust tradition of non-alcoholic apple juice production. Unlike in the United States, where “apple cider” may refer to both alcoholic and non-alcoholic unfiltered juice, Quebec’s non-alcoholic equivalent is simply called ''jus de pomme'' (apple juice), though it is typically cloudy and unfiltered rather than clear. This distinctive style is widely available at farmers’ markets and orchards during the fall, and is popular among both locals and visitors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lehnert |first=Richard |date=2012-10-01 |title=The ciders of Quebec |url=https://goodfruit.com/the-ciders-of-quebec/ |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=Good Fruit Grower |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Jus de pomme biologique {{!}} Vergers Paul Jodoin Inc. {{!}} Aliments du Québec |url=https://www.alimentsduquebec.com/fr/produits-dici/produits-certifies/jus-de-pomme-biologique |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=www.alimentsduquebec.com |language=fr-ca}}</ref>
== History == The honour of planting the first apple tree in the history of Quebec goes to Louis Hébert, apothecary from Paris and New France's first settler. He did so around 1617 on the site where Quebec City was founded in 1608.<ref>Martin, Paul-Louis, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=GaOfezs1fxcC Les fruits du Québec. Histoire et traditions des douceurs de la table]'', p. 35</ref> A good number of the first French settlers to the colony were Normans who brought over the apple cider craft. Sizable orchards developed in the region of New France, particularly on Île d'Orléans.<ref>Martin, p. 38.</ref>
The Sulpicians, who settled on the Island of Montreal in 1657, possessed, beginning in 1666, a little orchard inside the fenced garden of the seminary on Notre-Dame Street. A bigger orchard was planted on the side of Mount Royal, in the mid-1670s.<ref>Martin, p. 41.</ref> On this site, the ''mission de la Montagne'' where Marguerite Bourgeoys had her school, they erected a fort, in 1685, where they were using two cider presses.<ref>Martin, p. 42.</ref> In 1705, the production of cider was about 30 barrels, and part was sold outside the religious community.
In 1731, the orchards covered {{convert|90|arpent|acre|lk=in|1}} on the Island of Montreal, on the side of the mountain and around town.<ref>Martin, p. 40.</ref> From 1731 to 1781, the surface area occupied by the orchards rose from {{convert|90|to|402|arpent|km2}}. The common cultivars at the time were the Calville blanc, Calville rouge, Famous, Reinette, Bourassa, Pomme blanche, Pomme grise of Montreal<ref>Martin, p. 59.</ref> and Sauvageon.<ref>Suzel Brunel (dir.) ''[http://www.cbcq.gouv.qc.ca/mont_royal.html Étude de caractérisation de l'arrondissement historique et naturel du Mont-Royal] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201110610/http://www.cbcq.gouv.qc.ca/mont_royal.html |date=December 1, 2008 }}'', p. 44.</ref> These cultivars have been supplanted by others since.
The British Conquest of 1760, confirmed by the cession of 1763, brought along all kinds of changes in the habits of French Canadians. Great Britain's protectionist trade policy, limiting exchanges within the British Empire, favoured the importation of alcohols from England (whisky, gin) and Antilles (rum), and discouraged all the artisanal productions of the inhabitants. Only beer, produced by industrialists from Great Britain (or of British origin), expanded significantly in the 19th century.
On August 15, 1807, in ''Le Canadien'' of Quebec City, there was an article in which the author deplored that more efforts were not made to encourage the cultivation of apples on Île d'Orléans and to export cider, which he judged "superior or at least equal to that of Europe and the United States". He suggested also that the production could serve to diminish the excessive consumption of rum, a "source of disastrous ruins in a lot of families."<ref>Brunel, p. 58.</ref>
The artisanal production of cider continued until the period of prohibition on alcohol in the middle of the 1910s. In April 1919, a great majority of Quebecers (78.62%) voted yes in a Quebec referendum asking them if "beer, ciders, and light wines" should be allowed, as excluded from the list of prohibited alcoholic beverages. However, in 1920, a legislative omission rendered cider illegal in the territory of Quebec. Indeed, the Canadian ''Alcoholic Beverages Act'' which ended prohibition and created the monopoly of the ''Commission des liqueurs du Québec'', did not legislate on cider, which consequently found itself in a judicial void. It was only in 1970, half a century later, that the situation was corrected. During this period, cider continued to be produced by several apple growers, but they were not legally permitted to sell it.
When cider became legal again, Quebecers were served a cider produced industrially, which was disliked very much by many and gave it a bad reputation. Makers were unable to supply to the demand and inundated the market with products that had no maturity.<ref name="Historique">ACAQ. "[http://www.cidreduquebec.com/Historique.htm Historique] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080323183213/http://www.cidreduquebec.com/Historique.htm |date=March 23, 2008 }}", in the site of the ''Association des cidriculteurs artisans du Québec'', retrieved November 25, 2008</ref> A whole generation experienced the Grand Sec d'Orléans,<ref>"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K65koh6er1U Pub Québec - Le grand sec d'Orléans : bon comme c'est pas permis]", in ''YouTube'', November 13, 2008 (1975 TV advertising)</ref> which to many, evoked what is most undrinkable when it comes to alcohol. Sales declined after a few years, and cider, barely gotten out of its "dark age", was plunged back into it. From about {{convert|1000000|impgal}} a year in 1971, the production dropped to {{convert|300000|impgal}} per year in 1982.<ref>Jean-Gilles Jutras. "[http://www.planete.qc.ca/jutras/decouverte/decouverte-2242003-56109.html Jean-Gilles Jutras à la découverte : Le cidre] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706201549/http://www.planete.qc.ca/jutras/decouverte/decouverte-2242003-56109.html |date=July 6, 2011 }}", in ''Planète Québec'', April 22, 2003</ref> It was only at the end of the 1980s when the first craft production permits were issued by the ''Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux du Québec'', that Quebec cider was truly reborn, about the same time as beer and wine, for the same reason.<ref name="Historique"/>
The ciders crafted by small cider makers then multiplied, often avoiding to use the word ''cidre'' on the bottle to avoid alarming the consumers.<ref>VinoTV. "[http://www.vinotv.ca/spip/spip.php?page=chroniquearticle&id_article=122 Christian Barthomeuf, du Clos Saragnat : un pionnier de la production de cidre de glace] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706212427/http://www.vinotv.ca/spip/spip.php?page=chroniquearticle&id_article=122 |date=2011-07-06 }}" (a pioneer in production of ice cider), in ''VinoTV.ca'', September 18, 2008</ref> The first Quebec ice cider was crafted by Christian Barthomeuf in Dunham in the Eastern Townships<ref>Clos Saragnat. "[http://www.saragnat.com/french.html Un peu d'histoire...] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207083113/http://www.saragnat.com/french.html |date=December 7, 2008 }}", in the site of the ''Clos Saragnat'', 2008</ref> during the winter of 1989–1990. The first bottles bear the "1990" ''millésime''. Ten years later, cider makers obtained the authorization to name their products ''cidre de glace'' (ice cider). A regulation on cider was finally adopted by the National Assembly of Quebec in November 2008.<ref>LaTerre.ca "[http://www.laterre.ca/?action=detailNouvelle&menu=§ion=manchette&idArticle=5732 Le Règlement sur le cidre adopté]", in ''LaTerre.ca'', November 13, 2008.</ref><ref>ANQ. ''[http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=3&file=/S_13/S13R1.HTM Règlement sur le cidre. Loi sur la Société des alcools du Québec]'', Éditeur officiel du Québec, 2008.</ref>
== Types == Quebec cider makers prepare various types of ciders, which are categorized according to the production method, the percentage of alcohol, the effervescence, or the residual sugar content.<ref name="Terr">SAQ. "[http://www.saq.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/GeneralContentView?page=/nh/section5_parlons-vins-alcools/terroirs-du-quebec/pommes-z&langId=-2&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001 Terroirs du Québec. Pommes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524110208/http://www.saq.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/GeneralContentView?page=%2Fnh%2Fsection5_parlons-vins-alcools%2Fterroirs-du-quebec%2Fpommes-z&langId=-2&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001 |date=2011-05-24 }}" (apples), in ''SAQ.com'', retrieved October 18, 2008.</ref>
Cider is said to be ''light'' when it contains 7% of alcohol or less, ''strong'' when it contains 7% to 13%, and ''apéritif'' when between 13% and 20%. ''Flavoured'' cider, perfumed with aromas of berries, honey or maple, generally contains less than 10% alcohol.
As it is with wine, cider can be ''still'' (without bubble) or ''sparkling'' (with bubbles).
Sparkling apple cider is crafted either by injecting carbon dioxide, in ''closed vats'' using the Charmat process or the traditional ''champenoise'' method. The result is a cider said to be ''semi-sparkling'' when in impregnated naturally with carbon dioxide, under low pressure (less than {{convert|2|atm}}), ''carbonated semi-sparkling'' when impregnated artificially with carbon dioxide, also under low pressure. It is ''sparkling'' when impregnated naturally with carbon dioxide under a pressure between {{convert|3|and|5|atm}} and ''carbonated sparkling'', if artificially impregnated with carbon dioxide under of the same pressure of {{convert|3|to|5|atm}}.<ref name=Terr/>
Apple mistelle is a cider obtained from a must kept fresh, that is unfermented, to which alcohol is added.
Ice cider, an innovation from Quebec,<ref name=Terr/> is crafted by pressing apples naturally frozen by winter's cold. Similar to the late harvest of grapes, apples picked during winter allow for a must with a high sugar content, when water, turned into ice, is separated from the apples. This step is called the ''cryoconcentration'' of sugar.<ref>La face cachée de la pomme. "[http://www.cidredeglace.com/cryoconcentration.html cryoconcentration] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090616081449/http://www.cidredeglace.com/cryoconcentration.html |date=2009-06-16 }}", in the site of ''La face cachée de la pomme'', 2008</ref> The final result, after the fermentation of the must, is a liqueur-like and mellow liquid, containing between 9 and 13% of alcohol.
== Regions == Quebec counts six cider-producing regions, which correspond more or less with its apple-producing regions: the Montérégie, Eastern Townships, Chaudière-Appalaches, the Laurentides, Charlevoix, and Capitale-Nationale.
== Apples == Cultivation of apples is well developed in Quebec, which produces in quantity several cultivars of apples, the McIntosh, Paula Red, Spartan, Cortland, Empire, Vista Bella and Jersey Mac being among the most common.<ref>FPPQ. "[http://www.lapommeduquebec.ca/pages/PQQ/vistabella.aspx Nos pommes] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220202231/http://www.lapommeduquebec.ca/pages/PQQ/vistabella.aspx |date=December 20, 2008 }}", in the site of ''La Fédération des producteurs de pommes du Québec'', retrieved October 18, 2008</ref>
== Notes == {{Reflist|2}}
== See also == * Cuisine of Quebec * Quebec beer * Quebec wine
== References == * Martin, Paul-Louis (2002). ''Les fruits du Québec. Histoire et traditions des douceurs de la table'', Sillery: Septentrion, 219 p. ({{ISBN|2894483392}}) ([https://books.google.com/books?id=GaOfezs1fxcC preview]). * Vachon, Jean (1997). ''Les pommes et les cidres du Québec'', Québec: Éditions Montcalm, 48 p. * Lachapelle-Lemieux, Suzanne (1972). ''Le cidre de chez nous'', Rougemont: Cidrerie du Québec, 64 p. * SAQ. "[http://www.saq.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/GeneralContentView?page=/nh/section5_wine-liquor-advice/quebec-terroirs-z/apples-z/&langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001 Quebec terroirs. Apples] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524110341/http://www.saq.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/GeneralContentView?page=/nh/section5_wine-liquor-advice/quebec-terroirs-z/apples-z/&langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001 |date=2011-05-24 }}", in ''SAQ.com'', 2008. * Prévost, Robert, Suzanne Gagné and Michel Phaneuf (1986). ''L'histoire de l'alcool au Québec'', Montréal: Société des alcools du Québec, 239 p. ({{ISBN|2760402878}}).
== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100422233617/http://www.chevaliersducidre.com/ Confrérie des chevaliers du cidre du Québec] {{in lang|fr}} * [http://www.cidreduquebec.com Association des cidriculteurs artisans du Québec] {{in lang|fr}}
{{Apples}} {{Alcoholic beverages}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Quebec Cider}} Category:Cuisine of Quebec Category:Cider Category:Canadian alcoholic beverages Category:Canadian drinks Category:Food and drink in Quebec Category:Alcohol in Quebec