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Ciders and meads are gaining popularity in India, offering an exciting alternative to traditional alcoholic beverages. Whether you prefer a crisp apple cider, a tropical mango cider, or a rich honey mead, these beverages bring unique flavours and craft appeal. As more Indian cider and mead beverage brands emerge, consumers now have access to high-quality, locally produced options that rival international offerings.
Traditionally, cider is made from fermented apple juice, and is known for its light, fruity taste and balanced sweetness. It comes in different styles, from dry and tart with low ABV (alcohol by volume) to hard cider with higher alcohol content. Indian cider brands are now experimenting with innovative flavours like mango cider, making the category even more exciting.
Meanwhile, mead drinks are one of the world’s oldest alcoholic beverages, crafted by fermenting honey with water and additional ingredients like fruit, coffee, and spices. From honey mead to coffee mead, these unique drinks offer a complex flavour profile and are gaining a dedicated following.
If you’re looking for the best cider or good mead in India, there are now a variety of options to explore. In this guide, we’ll highlight some of the top ciders and best meads, discussing their flavour notes, origins, and what makes them special. Whether you’re a seasoned cider enthusiast or curious about trying mead beverage for the first time, these selections promise a distinctive drinking experience. Cheers to discovering India’s finest cider beverages and mead drinks!
Five interesting facts about ciders and meads:
Mead is made by fermenting honey and water.
Cider is made by fermenting fruit juice, traditionally apple.
Ciders can be dry, semi-dry, or sweet.
Mead can be still, sparkling, or carbonated.
Like cider, mead too offers a range of sweetness levels, from dry to sweet.
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Best Ciders And Meads In India:
Wildcraft Guava Cider
This unique and highly aromatic mead is crafted from premium pink guavas sourced from the Deccan plateau. It exudes a sweet fruit-forward aroma that will transport you straight to childhood memories of warm winter afternoons. On the palate, it offers a bold and tart profile, with refreshing and juicy notes complemented by a smooth, creamy texture. This cider pairs exceptionally well with spicy dishes such as paneer tikka or tandoori chicken, where its fruity acidity balances the dish’s heat. It also complements tangy preparations like pav bhaji making for a mouthwatering combination.
Producer: Wildcraft Beverages
Price: ₹180
Wildcraft Mango Cider
This tropical delight fills the room with sweet and fruity aromas of sun-ripened Alphonso mangoes the minute you open the bottle. On the palate, it offers a harmonious blend of juicy mango sweetness and subtle tartness, complemented by a smooth, sophisticated finish. This refreshing beverage pairs exceptionally well with creamy and tangy dishes such as dahi ke kebab or murgh malai tikka, where its tangy notes cut through all the richness. It also enhances the flavours of tangy regional delicacies like raw mango fish curry.
Producer: Wildcraft Beverages
Price: ₹180
Wildcraft Coffee Orange Cider
This innovative cider is both bright and intense. Its complex flavour profile combines rich, roasted notes of coffee intertwined with the citrusy brightness of orange, creating a balanced and invigorating cider experience. On the palate, it delivers a smooth, medium-bodied texture with a subtle sweetness, leading to a crisp, clean finish. This cider is best paired with crunchy and filling masala dosa or a spicy and punchy chicken Chettinad where its coffee notes and zesty orange aromas bring out the flavours of these preparations.
Producer: Wildcraft Beverages
Price: ₹180
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Cerana Blue Pea Lavender Mead
A captivating fusion of floral elegance and honeyed sweetness, this semi-sweet metheglin showcases a mystic blue hue, complemented by the soothing aroma of Kashmiri lavender and mustard honey. On the palate, it offers a delicate balance of floral notes and subtle sweetness, leading to a smooth, refreshing finish. This mead pairs wonderfully with mildly spicy koftas and kebabs, where its floral profile enhances the spices, as well as desi-Chinese dishes like chilli chicken, providing a harmonious contrast to their savoury flavours.
Producer: Cerana Meads
Price: ₹199
HIK! Blueberry Mead
This refreshing mead marries the ancient art of honey fermentation with the vibrant freshness of blueberries. HIK Blueberry Mead entices with a deep, ruby-red hue and aromas of floral honey and ripe blueberries. On the palate, it offers a luscious fusion of sweet and the finish is smooth and elegantly earthy, leaving a tangy blueberry essence that lingers pleasantly. commands to be paired with dishes that challenge sweetness and reset the palate, like an aromatic and spicy vegetable biryani or mutton keema.
Producer: Orrchid Brews Pvt. Ltd.
Price: ₹180
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