'We saw an opportunity': Exotic flavour from Armagh’s top cider maker to refresh summer season
County Armagh family cider producer unveils tropical-inspired craft cider following strong response at Balmoral Show
County Armagh’s third-generation Long Meadow Cider has just launched a new Limited Edition Mango Cider for the summer season.
The innovative craft cider blends the company’s traditional apple juice recipe with ”a tropical twist”, according to the company’s Alanna McKeever., offering “a smooth, refreshing, and juice-like flavour profile designed specifically for summer”..
Alanna continues: “We saw an opportunity to use our expertise in flavoured ciders to create something different and refreshing for the summer months ahead. We also have a number of different tastes in our portfolio that includes Berry Blast and Blossom Burst for the hopefully warmer and drier months.”
Long Meadow Cider, a multi-award-winning grower and producer of a range of apple cider flavours, juices and healthy apple cider vinegar (ACV), is among Northern Ireland’s most innovative cider processors.
Based near Loughgall, Long Meadow, the McKeever family business, has won a host of UK Great Taste and Blas na hEireann awards for quality, innovation and outstanding taste.
The company launched the new mango cider during the recent Balmoral Show and found the cider immensely popular with visitors to its stand in the successful FoodNI Food and Drink Pavilion. The feedback from those who sampled the mango cider at Balmoral was “terrific”, Alana adds.
Long Meadow has a heritage in apple growing stretching back three generations in county Armagh and has already won business from delis, independent retailers, restaurants and bars in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and with Amazon in Britain.
The enterprising family grows and harvests apples from upwards of 120 acres of orchards, 30 of which are on the home farm at Loughgall. Native Bramley apples, which have EU PGI status, and other locally grown apples from a network of trusted growers are used in cider processing.
Long Meadow ciders and juices are processed exclusively using pure pressed apple juice from the family farm. The focus is on natural products without use of concentrates, chemicals or added water. Small batches are produced on the farm using a unique slow fermentation process for greater flavour.