Apple Cider Day

Categories:: Food & Beverage
Tags:: Beverage Drinking Fruit
Where:: United States
Date change rule:: Every November 18
Holiday emoji:: 🍎

Apple Cider Day celebrates the rich and fruity beverage every November 18. This autumnal drink, made from freshly pressed and fermented apples, fills our hearts with warmth and rejuvenates the soul. Discover its history, explore new recipes, and raise a glass to this seasonal favorite!

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Expected Apple Cider Day Deals

As Apple Cider Day approaches on November 18, expect a flurry of seasonal promotions from beverage brands and retailers. While we wait for official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that companies like Starbucks often feature apple-flavored drinks, while Dunkin’ might offer special cider donuts. Grocery chains such as Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s typically highlight local and organic apple cider varieties. Specialty food stores like The Fresh Market could run tastings or discounts on artisanal ciders. Even home goods retailers like Sur La Table might promote cider-making kits or mulled cider spice blends. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as November 18 approaches.

Platform Guide for Apple Cider Day

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #AppleCiderDay. Share visually appealing photos of your favorite apple cider drinks, recipes, or fall settings.

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #AppleCiderDay. Film a quick tutorial on making mulled cider, a taste test of different brands, or a cozy fall aesthetic video.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #AppleCiderDay. Share your family’s favorite apple cider traditions or local orchards where you get your cider.

Apple Cider Day Hero

John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed)

John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, was an American pioneer nurseryman who introduced apple trees to large parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and present-day West Virginia. Born in 1774, he became an American legend for his kind demeanor, generosity, and efforts to spread apple cultivation across the frontier, making apples, and by extension, apple cider, a staple of American life.

History of Apple Cider Day

The origin of apple cider dates back to 3,000 B.C. when the Celts in Britain made the beverage using crabapples. Unlike the cider we know today, this beverage was bitter because it used the local crabapples that grew in small shrubs. The Roman invasion of England in 55 B.C. brought with it apple cultivators and orcharding techniques. The harvests from these orchards were then used to make cider.

The Norman invasion of England in 1066 introduced acidic cider apples and advanced apple-pressing technology to make the juice-extraction process easier. This made cider a popular drink in England and around the world. Western Europe went through a climate shift between the 14th and 19th centuries called The Little Ice Age, where the overall temperature dropped, causing grape vineyards to suffer as they needed a warmer climate. Since apples could survive cooler temperatures, cider became the predominant alcoholic beverage over wine.

Due to an increasing market and demand, small farmers started selling their orchards to commercial cider producers in the 19th century. These producers then expanded their businesses and revamped old methods of cultivation to meet the growing demands. By the 1980s, the image of apple cider had become that of a cheap drink which country people drank. However, the Irish company Magners revived its status in the 21st century through its sleek and professional advertising campaigns showing cider as a drink of the modern era for a younger crowd who enjoyed cider.

Apple Cider Day timeline

3,000 B.C.

Celts Make Crabapple Cider

The Celts in Britain discover cider using nearby crabapple shrubs to make a bitter beverage.

55 B.C.

Roman Invasion of England Introduces Apple Orchards

The Romans bring apple cultivators and orcharding techniques with them leading to the production of apple cider.

19th Century

The Commercialization of Cider

Cider is produced in large quantities by big businesses, but its reputation slowly degrades and is seen as a cheap drink.

21st Century

Apple Cider Rebrands

The Irish company, Magners, rebrands cider as a modern drink by using sleek-looking advertisements.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Apple Cider Day

Local businesses can embrace Apple Cider Day by offering special promotions and products. Cafes and bakeries can feature warm mulled cider, apple cider donuts, or cider-flavored pastries. Restaurants might create seasonal cocktails or mocktails using apple cider, or incorporate it into savory dishes. Farmers’ markets and local orchards can host cider tastings, offer discounts on fresh-pressed cider, or demonstrate the cider-making process. Retailers could curate gift baskets with gourmet ciders and accompanying snacks, encouraging customers to celebrate the rich flavors of autumn.

Apple Cider Day FAQs

When is Apple Cider Day?

Apple Cider Day 2026 falls on Wednesday, November 18. It’s the perfect mid-week treat to enjoy a warm, spiced glass of this beloved fall beverage.

What is the difference between apple cider and apple juice?

Apple cider is typically raw, unfiltered, and unpasteurized, giving it a cloudy appearance and a richer, more complex flavor than apple juice. It’s essentially fresh-pressed apple juice that hasn’t undergone extensive processing.

How popular is apple cider in the United States?

Apple cider enjoys significant popularity in the U.S., especially during the fall season when fresh apples are abundant. It’s a staple at orchards, farmers’ markets, and grocery stores, with millions of gallons consumed annually.

Is apple cider alcoholic?

Traditional apple cider, as celebrated on Apple Cider Day, is a non-alcoholic beverage made from fresh-pressed apples. It’s a sweet, unfermented drink enjoyed by all ages.

How To Celebrate Apple Cider Day

Buy cider from a local farm
Use this day to support local cultivators. Ditch the ‘cool’ brands and buy your cider from a local farmer.
Make your own apple cider
It’s all about DIY these days. It’s very easy to make cider at home, so find that online recipe and get going!
Read some literature
Not a big drinker? You can live vicariously through characters drinking cider in various Christmas stories.

5 Facts About Apple Cider

Cider might have medicinal properties
Cider used to be advertised as a cure for gout in the 19th century.
36 apple pieces equal one gallon
That’s a lot of apple pieces to make one gallon of apple cider.
Cider baptism was a thing
Children used to be baptized in cider in the 14th-century because it was seen as cleaner than water.
Cider used to be safer than water
Many pilgrims who came to America used to drink cider instead of water because the water was unsafe and had harmful bacteria.
Beer beats cider in America
Cider’s popularity decreased in the early 1900s due to beer being introduced to America by the Europeans.

Why We Celebrate Apple Cider Day

To welcome Autumn
Apples are harvested during the fall season. Cider thus represents the coming of Autumn.
It’s yum
We must celebrate delicious things, and cider is loved by many because they enjoy its fruity taste.
It brings people together
Cider helps people bond over stories of their childhood and the past. It also keeps the cold away and makes the heart warm.