Episode 60 Cider! The Drink of Liberty - Beer is for Royalists

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Listen to "060 Cider - The Drink of Liberty! Only Royalists Drink Beer" on Spreaker.

 

Link to the Episode:

I might be some leather stocking woodland ruffian - but at least I'm drinking the drink of the good and the just - Cider!  At least in the increasingly heated beverage judging of the 18th century, that's how cider could come out.  OK - that's an exaggeration, most people just drank their non-water beverages and enjoyed them.  But like last week, there was an element of good or bad, better or best to one's choice in tipple as the political environment was getting het-up in the middle of the 18th century.  Now that there were several choices in drink.

While cider and dessert apples were imports from (mainly) England - the cider and pie became symbols of America - despite their foreign origins.

In the 18th century, they were simply a big part of food and drink due to their cooperative nature.

When sorting through the apples - whether for juicing drying or storing, best to give this one a miss:

Lowly Worm from Richard Scarry's Busy Town
This apple has too much worm to work as cider.

Here's the large size apple-juice press from my visit to Doylestown:



This is what you spent your fortune on if you the 19th Century Pennsylvania Tile Baron - Henry Chapman Mercer. You fancy home you call a castle.

An early poured concrete structure - and the concrete was mixed entirely by hand!


And then you also build a Museum (the Mercer Museum) that looks like a castle





So much stuff from daily life!  Besides being a tile baron, Mercer was an early archeologist of homely things.

An interior shot of the Castle in all it's cluttered glory

Comments

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  3. Rose JohnDecember 31, 2024 at 10:34 AM

    What a fascinating dive into the history of cider! It's amazing how something as simple as a drink can carry such a rich political and cultural history. I love how you highlight how cider and pie became iconic symbols of America, even though their roots trace back to England. And the idea of judging one's drink choice in the 18th century is such an interesting angle! Speaking of drinks, if you're looking for a kid-friendly option that's just as enjoyable, Wendy’s Kids Menu has some great, tasty drinks and meals that the little ones will love. Thanks for sharing this piece of history!

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