Les Cidres de France – Thierry Marx

by Abdon FLORES

For decades, cider has been a rather underrated beverage, one of those products that you drink only on really special occasions -usually at the end or the beginning of each year due to religious festivities. It is true that almost everybody likes cider but not many are regular consumers. That’s why Les Cidres de France (UNICID), the organization gathering producers in France, has launched a campaign to promote and raise people’s interest. Quite a campaign since UNICID has chosen starred chef Thierry Marx as ambassador of the product.

“When Les Cidres de France asked me to make some recipes to marry with cider, I didn’t hesitate,” stated Thierry Marx. “It’s about easy recipes going well with cider. As an enthusiast of the terroir, I deeply thought and conceived 4 recipes in order to enhance cider. [ ] Also, it’s important to know that when we talk about cider we talk about ciders, since there are many kinds.”

Now, the organoleptic diversity of ciders comes from the different kinds of apples which can be classified as sweet, bittersweet, bitter and sour. These flavors render five different types of ciders: sweet and fruity; fresh and sour; tasty and balanced; generous and structured; and dry and robust. If we take into account that in France there are about a thousand different kinds of apples to make cider, we have an ample cartography regarding ciders.

 

 

 

In the fancy palace Mandarin Oriental in Paris, M. Marx presented the four dishes in an event where cider was the core of the night, and where the uncertain became evident. A sweet cider goes well with pâtes aux gambas. A tasty cider is perfect to go with croque-madame. The generous cider makes a good couple with sushi. And, finally, the famous galette finds a companion in the dry and robust cider, making an interesting contrast for a dessert. Every year more than 90 million liters of cider are made in France; the cider producers sector is one of the most important in the alcohol drinks industry in the country. WIth the effort made by UNICID, it may finally be the awakening of this traditional and popular drink.