Cornish to the Core!
Common questions about the harvest, apples and the press
When is the best time to pick my apples?
Give your apples a little tug, or a gentle pull on the branch. If it easily pops off, it is ready, and you should consider getting ready to harvest. Be very careful, as the apple tree tends to shed some apples early to make room for more, so just because your apples are on the ground doesn’t mean its entirely ready for harvest. Generally speaking, the longer the apple is on the branch, the sweeter the results. But do be careful not to let the apples rot or turn soft, as that makes the juice and pressing process lesser quality.
What is the price to press?
Our 750 ml bottle of pasteurized Apple juice is £2.00. If you return last year’s bottles for cleaning and sterilization for use, we charge £1.85. For cider, we will discuss the cost at the time of fermentation, as it depends how long we will keep it ‘on the go’ for you.
Is there any chemicals or preservatives?
No, we do not add anything to your juice, we give you the best tasting products and to do that we avoid adding anything. The pasteurization method is used in order to preserve your apple juice and gives you the ability to store and drink your juice for much longer than without the pasteurization method.
Do you mix other apples to my apples?
No, only YOUR apples go into YOUR juice. There are some pressing companies that will mix your apples with others to make the juice cheaper, but we never do that.
How do you pasteurize it?
We pasteurize your juice by submerging the bottles into a tank of water, gently heating them to 72C, and suspending the juice at a consistent temperature for a specific amount of time. The temperature is designed to kill off any bad bacteria, whilst preserving the nutrients.
How much juice will I get from my apples?
The number of apples doesn’t always correlate to how much juice you get. It really depends on the variety of apple, the size and time you picked them. However, a rough guide is that you get around a third of juice from the volume of apples you drop off. We can explain specifics when you drop off your apples. If possible, do not pick your apples until you have spoken to us. Apples last much longer on the tree than in bags or boxes.
What shall I bring my apples in?
We have a selection of apple trays for easy transport. These stack and can accommodate a large amount of apples and still remain easy to carry with handles on each side. Call ahead to let us know how many you need when you are ready to pick.
Do my apples need to be clean?
Yes please. Whilst we rinse apples before pressing, we do not individually scrub them. If you’re picking dirty or insect infested apples, this can at times end up in the press. We ask you to do your best to clean off the apples and also pick out the rotten ones before coming to us for drop off.
What size are the bottles?
Our standard size bottles are 750 ml. We will typically give the bottles to you in cases of 12 bottles per box.
How long will my juice last?
We suggest a maximum shelf life of 24 months. It is also recommended that you store your juice out of direct sunlight and somewhere cool.
Can I press pears?
Absolutely! A combination of apple and pear juice is delicious. Pears don’t tend to keep as long as apples so only pick them a day or so before you plan on pressing. Pears on their own are very sweet and syrupy and they don’t pasteurize very well. We recommend a mix of roughly 35% pears to 65% apples.
How will I know when my juice is ready?
We will either call or send you a text when your juice is ready for collection. If you provided baskets or bins, we will keep your boxes aside to return to you with your order. Typically, once we receive your apples, we can turn them into juice within a week, sometimes quicker than that.
Will you make my Cider for me?
Yes. We can press your apples into juice and put it on for you. If you prefer, you can take the juice and make the cider yourself, which is quite simple and we can even provide you with yeast and recommendations on where/when/how to ferment.
When can I drink my cider?
All good things come to those who wait. Your cider can be consumed within 2-3 months, but we would recommend at least 5 months before consumption… even a year if you can wait that long!
Do I need to book a slot for apple pressing?
No, you don’t need to book any specific time, but please give us advance warning that you’re dropping your apples off. This will help us staff appropriately and ensure we are not leaving fruit sitting around on warm days.