Scrumpy
Encyclopedia
Scrumpy is a term often used for strong cider
s made in West Country
of England
. The term is especially used to distinguish those made locally in smaller quantities and using traditional methods from mass produced brand
ed ciders.
The name is believed to derive from the obsolete dialect term "scrimp", meaning a small or withered apple
, which also gave rise to the verb "scrump", meaning to steal fruit. It can be applied to basic home made
ciders as well as to commercially produced and marketed varieties.
Scrumpy can be dry or sweet, however tends to be stronger in alcohol
and more tannic
than most commercial ciders. It is often cloudy in appearance, and is usually still rather than carbonated.
Scrumpy was often featured in the songs of The Wurzels
, a folk/comedy/country group from South West England, especially in the song "I Am A Cider Drinker". Also the song "Drink up ye Zider".
Cider
Cider or cyder is a fermented alcoholic beverage made from apple juice. Cider varies in alcohol content from 2% abv to 8.5% abv or more in traditional English ciders. In some regions, such as Germany and America, cider may be termed "apple wine"...
s made in West Country
West Country
The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The term is especially used to distinguish those made locally in smaller quantities and using traditional methods from mass produced brand
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
ed ciders.
The name is believed to derive from the obsolete dialect term "scrimp", meaning a small or withered apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
, which also gave rise to the verb "scrump", meaning to steal fruit. It can be applied to basic home made
Homebrewing
Homebrewing is the brewing of beer, wine, sake, mead, cider, perry and other beverages through fermentation on a small scale as a hobby for personal consumption, free distribution at social gatherings, amateur brewing competitions or other non-commercial reasons...
ciders as well as to commercially produced and marketed varieties.
Scrumpy can be dry or sweet, however tends to be stronger in alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
and more tannic
Tannin
A tannin is an astringent, bitter plant polyphenolic compound that binds to and precipitates proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids.The term tannin refers to the use of...
than most commercial ciders. It is often cloudy in appearance, and is usually still rather than carbonated.
Scrumpy was often featured in the songs of The Wurzels
The Wurzels
The Wurzels are a British Scrumpy and Western band...
, a folk/comedy/country group from South West England, especially in the song "I Am A Cider Drinker". Also the song "Drink up ye Zider".