Making RealDrinks can be simple and rewarding - and you can do it too! The basics are easy but as you develop your skills and knowledge you will find there is an art with never-ending choices and possibilities!

Why bother? Well, the taste is unbeatable, it costs very little and you will have a sense of achievement. The only constraint may be equipment or time. If you can spare the time, do make it yourself but otherwise, buy from us!


How to make Yarde RealApple Juice
  1. Find traditional Devon orchard (of course it can be another apple growing county such as Somerset or Hereford but the taste will be different)
  2. Check orchard is naturally managed without any sprays or chemical fertilisers
  3. Hand pick and blend apples. Great care must be taken with these apples so they are not bruised. Apple juice is a safe product but care must be taken to avoid problems such as patulin, which comes from damaged apples and which is not destroyed by pasteurisation.
  4. Wash, mill and press apples. You will need to borrow, hire or buy equipment for this - see links for sources of advice.
  5. Pour pure juice into bottles. Ideally, you should let the juice stand, preferably overnight, to settle out the deposits before bottling. You can also strain through filter bags initially.
  6. Warm to 72°C for 20 minutes to prevent fermentation. You can buy the right equipment from £150 upwards from your local Homebrewshop or Vigo Ltd. See links for sources of advice.
  7. Wash the bottles well immediately after pasteurisation to avoid later contamination
  8. Drink and enjoy!




How to make Yarde RealCider
  1. Find traditional Devon orchard
  2. Check orchard is naturally managed without sprays or chemical fertilisers This is not just for good organic and environmental reasons - soil low in nutrients brings a slower fermentation thus a better tasting cider!
  3. Harvest and blend apples. This is a matter of developing a taste for the correct balance of sweet and sharpness with sufficient tannin for your own taste. It is very much a matter of personal taste, local varieties and magic that cannot be described! You have a further opportunity to blend if you wish once the cider has fermented
  4. Wash, mill and press apples - You will need to borrow, hire or buy equipment for this. See links for sources of advice.
  5. Allow to settle overnight and then rack to clean barrel.
  6. Allow to ferment naturally with wild yeasts
  7. Rack to clean barrel when fizzing stops (several weeks/months)-repeat until clear.
  8. Pour into glass bottle after fermentation has stopped (or else bottle may explode).
  9. Drink and enjoy!




How to make Yarde Sparkling RealCider

As for Yarde RealCider Steps 1.- 4. and then...
  1. Keeving - this is widely used in France to produce a quality sparkling cider. There are two stages:
    i. Firstly let the pressed pulp stand overnight
    ii. Secondly, allow to juice to form a "chapeau brun" or brown hat - then syphon off clear golden liquid between hat (top) and the lees (bottom) for a very slow fermenting juice. NB This often doesn't happen without adding calcium chloride (which we don't do)
  2. Allow to ferment naturally with wild yeasts
  3. Filter or rack when specific gravity drops sharply
  4. Then rack frequently to clean barrels
  5. Bottle at SG1016-1020 for dry cider, higher for sweeter ciders
  6. Bottle in champagne bottles - otherwise danger of explosions!
  7. Store for 6 months in cool dark conditions
  8. Drink and enjoy!




How to make Yarde RealElderflower Cordial
  1. Hand-pick at least 20-30 wild elderflower heads
  2. Dissolve 1kg cane sugar in 1litre of hot water
  3. Zest and pith 2 lemons
  4. Add 30g tartaric acid and one campden tablet.
  5. Mix together and leave for 36 hours
  6. Strain and bottle
  7. Drink and enjoy!




How to make Yarde RealCiderBrandy
  1. Make cider as described above
  2. Find a distillery and distill cider.
  3. Store for no less than three years - preferably longer in oak barrel in cool dark conditions
  4. Consider HMCE serious duty implications before you embark on this!