It’s no secret that our team at Blue Bee likes to eat. Passionate debates have ensued over the best fried chicken spot in town or which donut flavors to order when someone goes on a sweets run. Our tasting cards come not only with notes on the aromas of each cider but also suggested food pairings.
And we’re thrilled that our visitors and Cider Club members share this enthusiasm. Nearly every time I work in the tasting room, there is at least one customer who talks about what kind of food they’d enjoy with a particular cider or a pairing they’ve already tried at home. These run the gamut from the ambitious (Firecracker-soaked pineapple upside-down cake) to the classic (baked brie and Hopsap Shandy).
Just as each cider is unique, so too is each person’s palate. There are tasting wheels (like this one from Agroscope and the Swiss Fruit Association), sensory tests, and any number of other resources out there describing ways to taste cider. And while these are useful tools and can be fun to explore, at the end of the day they are just that – tools. Personal taste is varied and should be valued in all of its diversity.
I can’t say enough how important it is to drink what you like, while also being open to trying new things and retrying as time and opportunity allow. As tastes change and evolve over time, it’s always a good idea to revisit your favorites and give your not-so-favorites a second chance.
In their compendium, What to Drink With What You Eat, Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page observe that, “Drink is inseparable from food [. . .] When what you’re drinking melds with what you’re eating, something magical takes place . . .” The top suggestions they gathered from a number of experts for food pairings with cider include cheese, crepes, oysters, and other seafood. For other ideas, check out this Cider Pairings chart by the Northwest Cider Association and this Cider & Cheese pairing guide by the Finger Lakes Cider Alliance. Stay tuned for a future blog with more recipes and info about cooking with cider.
So now it’s your turn to tell us how you enjoy Blue Bee Cider. What are your favorite flavor pairings? Post in the comments below!
-Nicole Martorana
