323: Kazakhstan has Cider at last | Apple City Cider

Apples started their world tour from Kazakhstan but…

It is inconceivable, but true that in the home land, the epicenter, the frick’n ground zero of all apples globally there is no history of cidermaking in Kazakhstan. Welcome 2022 and the pioneering team of Aizhan, who is Kazak, and her French husband Alex Thomas. Together they are changing the course of history for the worlds’ 9th largest country that has the one boast that no other region of the world can claim: Kazakhstan is where apples originated. Thanks to the Silk Road for helping apples travel!

Aizhan and Alex Thomas sipping Apple City Cider with a a breath taking view in the background Apple City Cider

Based in the city of Almaty or what was once known as Alma-Ata meaning Grandfather Apple, there is now Apple City Cider’s new production facility and tasting room. The Thomas family ferment Malus Sieversii (wild apples) which there are 400 known varieties. In the rest of the world, cider makers use Malus Domestica which originally came from Malus Sieversii. It is much like domestic dogs are related to wolves, but the two are very different and the reason why Kazakhstan’s apple scene is so unique.

Malus Siversii

In the Tian Shan Mountain range that borders China and Kyrgyzstan lies the largest swath of wild apple forest in the world.  The city of Alma-Ata (now Almaty) in the southern region of the country at one time had only 5000 inhabitants versus the 2 million residents of today and also wild apple forest. Sadly, like many apple trees in countries all over the world, orchards have or are being cleared for construction. Thus, the Tian Shan Mountains are critical to the preservation of what remains of the once extensive forest of wild apple trees and is now a Natural Park Reserve.

One must secure a permit and be escorted to visit the wild apple forest, which can be a daunting task. But one does not need to visit the mountains to taste the apples, they can simply head to Almaty and visit Apple City Cider!

Cider Made In Kazakhstan

• Almaty Classic (6.0%) has been bottled. Expect a crisp and refreshing cider made with cultured yeast and wild apples. Alex says it is “fresh, fruity, and acid driven”.
• The Almaty Export is aging in oak and is a blend of native and cultured yeasts.
• Both ciders and all future Apple City Ciders moving forward are bottled in 750ML with crown caps.

The Movie: Cider in Kazakhstan

• The Thomas filmed a documentary on the wild apple forest in Kazakhstan with special guests, Andrew Lea, Claude Jolicoeur, Ryan Burk and Peter Mitchell. The documentary which is 2 hours and 13 minutes (is divided up into 3 Parts) has been reformatted into a one hour show and is slated to be featured on Amazon Prime.
• Watch on Vimeo 

Contact for Apple City Cider

• Website: https://applecitycider.com/

Mentions in this Cider Chat

• CiderCon 2023 Call for proposals – go to ciderassociation.org
• French Cider Tour Normandy & Brittany, France – September 18th-24th, 2022

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