Ciderkin, sometimes referred to as water-cider, is a kind of weak alcoholic cider traditionally drunk by children, and made by steeping the refuse apple

pomace Pomace ( ), or marc (; from French ''marc'' ), is the solid remains of grapes, olives, or other fruit after pressing for juice or oil. It contains the skins, pulp, seeds, and stems of the fruit. Grape pomace has traditionally been used to pr ...

in water. Ciderkin is currently listed alongside Cheate bread and Butter on the "Bill of Fare" for the

Plimoth Plantation Plimoth Patuxet is a complex of living history museums in Plymouth, Massachusetts, founded in 1947. Formerly Plimoth Plantation, it replicates the original settlement of the Plymouth Colony established in the 17th century by the English colon ...

1627 Harvest Dinner with the Pilgrims. However, according to the

Food Historian, this is not true 17th century ciderkin; Plimoth uses the term to differentiate between modern pasteurized sweet cider, which is served to guests, and period hard cider. ''Stagecoach and Tavern Days'', written by

Alice Morse Earle Alice Morse Earle (April 27, 1851February 16, 1911) was an American historian and author from Worcester, Massachusetts. She was christened Mary Alice by her parents Edwin Morse and Abby Mason Clary. On April 15, 1874, she married Henry Earle ...

, describes a 16th-century New Hampshire settler proudly recounting "he made one barrel of cider, one barrel of water-cider, and one barrel of charming good drink" from his first apple crop of eight bushels. According to Earle: In ''Berkshire Stories'', by

Morgan Bulkeley Morgan Gardner Bulkeley (December 26, 1837 – November 6, 1922) was an American politician, businessman, and sports executive. A Republican, he served in the American Civil War, and became a Hartford bank president before becoming the third pr ...

, ciderkin "was deemed especially suitable for children", especially compared to the stronger ciders widely consumed during the American colonial period.

References

* ''Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary'' (1913) * ''Berkshire Stories : nature, history, people, conservation'', Morgan Bulkeley (2004), ,
''Stagecoach and Tavern Days''

Styles of Cider
Cider {{drink-stub