Cider Kit or Juice?

[christet]

I`ve only ever made ale/larger before and never cider.

Ive had a look through some of these threads and can`t decide whether to go with a kit or just use apple juice?

I presume if you just use apple juice (and any other ingredients) that you just add water and yeast in the same way as when making beer?

Has anyone used actual apples when fermenting? a lot of people say to use tea and another flavor juice too and even jam?

I do fancy experimenting but not to the point it just ends up being a mess!

[sofa-matt]

Dont add any water! Always add strong black tea! I prefer not to use any juice made from concentrate. Then just add yeast for your 1st go.

After that you can get creative with all sorts ginger, chilli, honey and different types of juice. If you add any cordials (or anthing containing preservatives) then boil the hell out of them 1st.

I find making TC far more pleasurable than cider from a kit.

Let your imagination and your taste buds run riot!

[christet]

Ok, so no water but instead tea. I use a 23 litre barrel although usually only fill to around 21 or so as I find it always makes the brew a bit less watery.

How much apple juice/fruit juice would you recommend?

[oldbloke]

I read last night of somebody who used a cider kit and thought it was rub compared to cider made from cheap juice.
Standard recipes use something like 4l juice and 1/2l tea per gallon. Strong tea.
Sometimes 1/2l of that juice isn't apple - I like cranberry, rounds out the flavour a bit.
Scale that up...

[Pinto]

I've not had the pleasure of making a kit cider, but i've tasted some my brother did and I was underwhelmed. I'd also add that most things i've read on here about kits ranges from indifferent to negative.

Turbo Ciders work. Simple as. I've not been brewing them for long, but i've got quite a few under my belt, from 5l - 25l batches and they're probably the most fun parts of brewing i've experienced yet Once you have the basics under wraps (and you'll get those on the first brew) then there's a whole world of additives and tweaks to play with (check some of my back posts.... chilli cider anyone ? )

25l of all-juice cider also came in at under £20 too

My simple advice ? toddle off to lidls and raid the juice aisle.....

[Mitchamitri1]

Make it from real apples - I made 400 pints last year.......

If you aint gonna go to that trouble stick with juice and skip the kits.

[Pinto]

Make it from real apples - I made 400 pints last year

+1

Biggest problem is that the chance for cider apples comes but once a year

[Mitchamitri1]

I dont know anyone who only uses cider apples.

[jordanchaos]

I use a mixture of apple juices - the bulk 70% is cheap asda smartprice, I add one 1ltr white grape and then use some duskins bramley juice, sometimes I cut up some bits of apple and put them in a muslin bag for a weeks soak, I've used tea (its ok) but prefer using a champagne yeast and aiming for a light thin brew. great for summer drinking. dry as a bone. I don't add sugar except to prime bottles.