153:  Journey to the World's Largest Apple Tree | Kazakhstan

153: Journey to the World's Largest Apple Tree | Kazakhstan

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist November 7, 2018 Duration: 1:03:17

In this episode author of "The New Cider Makers Handbook" Claude Jolicoeur presents an overview of his trip to Kazakhstan in August of 2017.

This presentation was recorded at the 24th Annual Franklin County CiderDays on November 3, 2018.

Claude had a power point of slides from this trip, but do note that his descriptions fill in the void of not being able to see the photos.

We begin in the Tian Shan Mountains of Kazakhstan.

Locations:

  • Lee-Alatau National Park
  • Almaty to Sarkand was a 5 hour drive.

Claude states that one of the main reason he was there was to see the Largest Apple in the World. This tree's diameter is over 1 meter (3 feet).

This trip was design to both be a study of the areas apples and to create a documentary film

Also on this trip was

  • Andrew Lee - author
  • Ryan Burk - head cidermaker at Angry Orchard
  • Peter Mitchel - provides a curriculum on cider making.

Take Aways from this presentation

  • There are apple trees everywhere. Looking at Claude's photos you can see trees in the distance as one would see bush and sage brush in the desert. Every where you saw a tree, it seemed to be an apple tree.
  • The apples though wild, meaning that they are not be cultivated or spray, produced what looked like flawless apples
  • Horses are also found through the area, as horseback riding is quite popular
  • Cannabis Sativa can be found growing everywhere

Coming out in 2019 is the documentary film of this trip. Stay tuned.

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Ask for the following ciders - By supporting these cidermakers, you in turn help Cider Chat

  1. Kurant Cider - Pennsylvania : listen to Joe Getz on episode 14
  2. Big Apple Hard Cider - NYC : listen to Danielle von Scheiner on episode 35
  3. Oliver's Cider and Perry - Herefordshire/UK ; listen to Tom Oliver on episode 29
  4. Santa Cruz Cider Company - California : listen to Nicole Todd on episode 60
  5. The Cider Project aka EthicCider- California
  6. Albermale CiderWorks : listen to Chuck Shelton on episode 56
  7. Cider Summit : listen to Alan Shapiro founder of this cider fest on episode 75.
  8. Ramborn Cider Co. Luxembourg.
  9. Big Fish Cider Co. Virginia
  10. Tanuki Cider Co. Santa Cruz California episode 103
  11. Ross on Wye Cider and Perry, UK
  12. Process and Analytical NMR Services - John Edwards provides analytics of cider - stay tuned for his Chemical Fingerprints workshop coming up on Cider Chat
  13. Ironbark Ciderworks, Claremont, California

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There’s a whole world in a glass of cider, and Cider Chat is your invitation to explore it. Hosted by award-winning cidermaker and writer Ria Windcaller, this podcast travels far beyond the bottle to meet the people who make the global cider culture so vibrant. Each conversation is a journey-you might find yourself in a heritage orchard learning the history of forgotten apple varieties, in a bustling taproom with an importer explaining regional traditions, or in a kitchen with a chef pairing cider with unexpected foods. The discussions get into the delightful nuances, too, whether that’s the semantics of what we even call this drink or how the concept of terroir translates from soil to sip. It’s not just about production; it’s about the community, the travel, and the stories that fermentation unlocks. This is for anyone curious about the craft, history, and sheer enjoyment of fermented apple juice in all its forms. So, pour a glass and settle in for a series that feels like a wide-ranging, informative, and genuinely good-humored chat with friends who happen to be obsessed with cider. You’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for every effervescent, tart, or sweet sip, hearing directly from the growers, makers, and enthusiasts who are shaping this drink’s exciting present and future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 501

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