Crab Apples and TC - HELP REQUIRED

[AlexCricket]

I am a TC Virgin!

I am thinking starting off my exploits in the world of TC as I have a number of DJs sitting idle. I was thinking of something along the following lines:-

4 litres of Apple Juice
1 Bramley peeled and blitzed
7 Crab Applies peeled and blitzed (note mine are about 1" diameter)

Will this work - are there enough Crabs to give the tannin? Will I need to add additional sugars. I don't want anything too powerful more after the taste of applyness rather than blow my head off strength.

Any help gratefully received.

[lollypopp]

I would tip a little bit of strong tea in, not all will agree? and I think you'll need a little sugar in there, I'd say somewhere between 5 and 8ozs, What yeast are you using?

[DREADSKIN]

i wouldnt put tea and crabs in. the crabs should be perfect. i put a load in toa batch of pressed cider this year. will be looking forward to see how it is.

let us know how it tastes

[AlexCricket]

I was trying to avoid using Citric acid and Tea and trying to get something a little more 'authentic' by using crab apples.

I was wondering about sugar - I don't want to make it too powerful - proper cider apples can be very sweet but are normally mixed with ones that are very bitter. Maybe I shall add just a little.

I am trying to get my hands on some proper cider yeast but may end up having to go for something different. I think a Champagne yeast would leave me with a sort of Kentish Cider and I was after something a little more West Country - Any suggestions


DREADSKINS
Any idea how many Crabs I should use or is it just trial and error - perhaps equal weight of Crabs to Bramley?

[Trunky]

[Mitchamitri]

dont add tea - the crabs are enough. dont forget to wash them. dont add acid. chuck some sugar in - your alcohol will be a bit low if you dont.

[DREADSKIN]

yeah, with the crabs just throw in a big hand full per gallon. trail and error. no acid, thats what the bramley is for and no tea as thats what the crabs should provide. i just added what i had, one carrier bag full,, to the pulped apples. i made 5 gallons with it and other apples

[AlexCricket]

Quick query - as my Crab apples are quite small can I get away will not peeling them as this could be a very long job and just blitz them with the skin on.

Many thanks

[a-slayer]

I have made cider this year with about 3%ish crab apples in it, yellow ones which are high in tannin. I don't peel anything, just bung it through the crusher and press.

[AlexCricket]

I'm steeping them - with a bramley - in cheap juice rather than pressing them though. Would this make any difference.

[yogester]

Quick query - as my Crab apples are quite small can I get away will not peeling them as this could be a very long job and just blitz them with the skin on.

Many thanks

Definitely don't peel them, thats where a lot of the tannin is. Also steeping them won't be a great option as you won't extract the tannin very well which is the whole purpose of the crabs in the first place since the juice is not prime cider material in and of itself. two kitchen boards, some muslin cloth and some quick grips can make a serviceable press if maximum efficiency is not an issue.