American style apple cider

When I was visiting family in November I was reintroduced to warm apple cider, the non-alcoholic type with loads of spices.

Anyone know how I can recreate this?

It's my understanding that apple cider is a little bit different and tangier than apple juice. I can't recall seeing anything like it in the UK except for apple juice. Can you make really good apple cider with apple juice?

Vnicepeeps has posted about this somewhere. IIRC, in her opinion, there was one apple juice you could buy in the UK easily that she found satisfied the cider craving. It's readily available but I'm blanking on the name of it. I think it comes in a green bottle. I'll see if I can find her post...

I find that just generally, apple juice in the UK is much tangier and fresher tasting than the US kind, which I never liked because I find it so sickly sweet.  I think it's often blended with white grape juice to make it sweeter.  British apple juice is 100% apple, and is really delicious.  I think it would be good mulled with some cinnamon and nutmeg. 

Can someone in the US send you the packets of the dry mix? Seems like something that wouldn't be too expensive to send. I agree, it's tasty!

I've never had US apple juice that has grape juice in it!! It might have more to do with the variety of apple. There are tons of 100% apple juices here (US)!

But the UK juice I'm referring to is a bit cloudy (unfiltered) which is more like US cider.

Here's Pam's posts:

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=29180.msg375079#msg375079

The supermarket brand I mentioned above is Copella.

We're lucky in the southwest because all the places that make cider also make fresh pressed apple juice. I really love Cornish Orchards because they tell you which variety of apples goes into each juice, and then number them based on how sweet/sharp they are. They have an online shop, if you're interested. There are a few other local apple juice producers, but I don't know much about them.

Copella is great supermarket type brand in the UK and I can recommend Cornish Orchards too.  It's a matter of trying the types and seeing which in your opinion comes the closest.  To make it more cider like chuck in a cinnamon stick when heating. 

The UK apple juice is pressed and only one US wide producer here in the USA does it.  Simply Juice.  It's the only thing we drink since I find everything else like Motts insipid and tasteless.  The UK spoiled me.

Our local market labels single crop pressed type juices "ciders" so I think there is some leeway as to what a "US" cider is.

Oh, yes, Motts and all that are awful. As bad, IMO, as the store brand apple juice in the UK with the possible exception of M&S. It's a non-issue for us as neither of my kids like apple juice at all and I only drink cider when it's in season.

Apple juice in the UK is juice that has been filtered to remove solids and pasteurized so that it will stay fresh longer. US style cider needs to be kept refrigerated and doesn't last long even then.
Having said that, look for cloudy applejuice in chill sections.
And this stuff has already been mentioned:
http://www.copellafruitjuices.co.uk/juices/

is found in a lot of supermarkets.
Doug

Thanks guys. I think I know Copella. It sounds very familiar. I have a picture of it in my mind.

To make it more cider like chuck in a cinnamon stick when heating.  

I was also thinking a bit of allspice and cloves. Too much?

I'm sure that once you bung in the spices, you'll not notice a difference between apple 'juice' and 'cider'.

Pressed Apple Juice (usually fresh and not from concentrate like regular apple juice) is similar in taste to US Apple Cider (minus the spices).  It's an easier starting point than just buying any apple juice...

Currently Tesco's have Copella on offer at 88p per Litre.   

I'm sure that once you bung in the spices, you'll not notice a difference between apple 'juice' and 'cider'.

If you're a real fan of it, you would notice a difference. Cider, to me, is much more intense in flavor and even, for lack of a better word, has a different texture. But the pressed juice makes a darn good substitute.

Another good apple juice is Orchard Pig from Somerset.  I've been to this orchard, it's fantastic, and the juice is delicious.  I don't know if it's distributed throughout the UK, but I've seen it several places in the West Country, at Waitrose in Bournemouth, and at Whole Foods in London. 

The juice in the UK chill section is indeed pressed for the most part.... basically if you can see through it, or it's in the non cold section it's been processed and tastes different. 

B, I agree it's a texture thing too.... cider and pressed apple juice are thicker. 

Ashley, I put in nutmeg, cloves and even ginger upon occasion.  Just play with it until you get a mix you like. 

The one thing I miss too is "hard" cider.