Thursday’s Side Dish: Apple Cider

More than a refreshing fruit squeeze

Have you ever tried fresh apple cider? This is the time of year to get it fresh. Don’t confuse apple cider with apple juice. Apple cider has more flavor and a brownish-opaque appearance. There are miniscule apple particles floating in apple cider. Apple juice is apple cider that has been filtered and pasteurized, which means it has a longer shelf life than apple cider. These processes also remove pectin from the apple juice. Pectin can help the body lower cholesterol levels so apple cider also has more nutritional value. A portion of the yearly apple cider supply is frozen so that it can be on store shelves all year long. People enjoy cider cold or hot. It’s also a favorite around the holidays.