Pouring Asturian cider means more than just tradition in this northwest part of Spain. It’s a feat of daring and dexterity and locals can’t wait to get visitors involved. Here’s what you need to know about pouring Spanish cider.
Pouring Asturian Cider
A slightly sweet, slightly sour scent of apples lingers in the squares of Oviedo in northern Spain. Inside the sidrerias, it doesn’t so much linger as call up every one of its friends and invite them to a party.
Sticky cider on the floor, scented cider in wooden barrels and cider, stunt cider, falling from tipped green bottles to fall straight into an outstretched glass.
Or at least, that’s what’s supposed to happen.
Why Pour Cider From Such a Great Height?
Asturian cider needs aeration and locals have found that the best, and the most fun way to do that is to pour it from a great height.
They’ve also discovered that it’s even more fun to watch hapless foreigners have a go.
In almost every sidreria (the cider houses found across Asturias,) you’ll be egged on to have your turn.
How to Pour Spanish Cider
To actually pour Spanish cider involves a two handed technique. Start with one hand holding a glass, the other a bottle.
Simultaneously lift the bottle up, the glass down, in a manner reminiscent of a pseudo-Scottish jig at a late night wedding party.
Easy to say, much harder to do, as the sticky floors suggest.
If all else fails, a kind cider pourer will do it for you.
Where Can You Find Spanish Cider?
You can find cider all across Spain’s northern green belt where the apples love to grow. The majority of Spanish cider is produced in Asturia but you can also track some down in neighbouring Galicia and, of course, Basque ciders in the Basque Country. It’s fun to try out cider bars, where you can dine inside real chestnut barrels, but you’ll also find Spanish sidra paired with traditional Asturias cuisine in normal restaurants too.
You Have to Drink Fast!
The cider, cloudy and sharp rather than sweet, needs lots and lots of air to taste “fresh” and that freshness doesn’t last for long.
Drink servings come in small portions and you have to drink fast. Take too long over your Spanish cider and it will go flat: the pouring will have been in vain.
What Do You Eat with Spanish Cider?
As with most of the rest of Spain, it’s unusual to find people drinking without food (although the drinking hours do start early.) It’s also very unusual to see people visibly drunk.
Spanish tortilla, the egg and potato-based dish, often appears, as do some bitter olives and jamon. Look out for high quality Asturian cheeses, too. You can read up on them with our guide to Asturian cuisine here, which includes everything from Asturias beans, Asturias wines and traditional pork sausages.
Handy Spanish Phrases for Drinking Cider
How do you say cider in Spanish?
Cider is sidra in Spanish, pronounced a little like SEEdra. Sidra natural is natural cider. Sidra asturiana is cider from the Principality of Asturias.
How do you say pouring in Spanish?
It’s verter or decantar as the verb. Vertiendo sidra is pouring cider but in Asturias, you’ll hear the word escanciar more often.
Is there a word for a cider pouring expert?
Indeed, there is. And it’s a good one! Escanciador. Sounds like a medieval knight!
What does espalmar mean?
This is talking about the bubbles or froth that forms in the glass after a successful cider pouring.
How about culin?
That’s the size of the sip that you’re expected to drink in one go from the edge of the glass. It’s a little more than a sip but the sidra is fresh and quite low alcohol so it’s not as bad as it sounds!
Ciders of Spain: An In-Cider Job
Well, it took until this point in life to realise that the UK is actually the biggest producer and consumer of cider in the world.
But Asturias and the Basque region are hot on their apple heels, with 80% of Spain’s cider production taking place in Asturias.
Let’s take a closer look at these apple juice glow-ups.
Basque Cider
Like the cider in Asturias, Basque cider needs to be poured from a great height. It’s flat, cloudy and produced without yeast from the annual plentiful apple harvest.
It’s called Sagardoa and you’ll find it in cider houses called sagardotegi, along with plenty of traditional food. Try the salted cod omelette or the quince jelly and nuts to round off your experience.
Asturian Cider
Asturian cider is decidedly flat and dry, you’ll find no carbonated bubbles here. It’s also prepared without natural yeasts and follows a similar process to the wine production process. If you get the chance, visit an apple farm and cider producer. It’s incredible to walk between mountains of apples, stainless steel tanks and overflowing orchards and then end the day with a good meal! And a bottle of cider, of course.
What’s the Difference Between Basque Cider and Asturian Cider?
Shh… Questions like this upset people who are passionate about their land! But in truth, they are very similar. However, differences in land, climate, varieties of apple, wild yeasts, alcohol content and so on lead to different apples and experts are sure that they can taste the difference between the amber liquids. Cider makers think so too.
Where Can You Buy Spanish Cider Online?
Can’t make it across to Spain just now but want to buy some Asturian cider? Either for yourself or to provide a different gift for someone you love. Get your fix of traditional cider production by shopping online.
To make life easier, we’ve done your homework for you.
Here’s a range of ciders and traditional Asturian snacks that you can buy in online stores and ship to the UK or USA. If you book or buy through these links then we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Cheers!
As for the rest of the cider traditions? You’ll have to make those happen at home and just imagine staring out over the Bay of Biscay.
Buy Asturian Cider Online
Here are some good spots to find traditional Spanish cider. Worst case scenario, it will be Spanish-style cider.
- Too nervous to pour the cider yourself? You can, honest to god, buy an Asturian cider pouring machine like this one here. It delivers the amber liquid in small amounts, ready to drink as you think about those apple orchards.
More About Spanish Food and Drink
Travel around the rest of Spain through her recipes.
- Saltier and wrinklier than Mick Jagger: patatas arrugadas from the Canaries.
- The best churros in Madrid at the oldest chocolatería
- Challenge your tastebuds with the Tenerife food guide
- The best tapas bars in Seville
- Gin, sin and the Xoriguer Distillery in Menorca
- What makes the olive harvest in Spain so different
- The seven Rioja bodegas you need on your wine-tasting list
Wicked photos…I could really go for some of that cider right now! And tortillas.
what FUN!! i could never make it into the glass, pouring from that far away. the seating is incredible!
I would never be able to hit the glass. I would be laughing too hard. Thanks for showing me something new (and fun) today.