A sensational cider” -Adam Wells
The fruit
I have admired the Discovery ever since it started producing fruit on the single tree I planted in our Two-acre Orchard: it is an early cropper, often ready to harvest at the end of August, and is an attractive, juicy and crisp dessert apple. Its flavour is really quite distinct, often reminiscent of strawberries. We have used it for years to make a rich and popular juice but we had so much fruit this year from our own and a friend’s tree that I decided to try it in a cider. I first tasted Discovery cider several years ago. It was produced by Sam Nightingale in Kent and I noted the fresh and fruity flavour ideal for a summer drink. It would be a departure for me from using the local bittersweet cider apples with their distinctive tannins.
Discovery was found in the late 1940s by a fruit farm worker in Langham, Essex, who had planted some pips of Worcester Pearmain in his garden. So Discovery is a seedling of Worcester Pearmain, an attractive red 19th century early-season apple variety which is probably the source of the strawberry flavour, which is also found in some of its other offspring including Katy.
Katy is another early. red dessert apple which has long been used as a cider apple. I have two young trees so their crop was added to the mix. Katy originates from Sweden, where it is known as Katya. It was developed in 1947 as a cross between James Grieve and Worcester Pearmain.
Fermentation record
Being such an early pressing, when the temperature was still warm, initial fermentation was rapid. After racking the fermentation slowed but this could have been due to the low winter temperatures so I racked a second time to ensure stability.
| Date | Specific gravity | Notes |
| 5 Sep 2024 | 1.047 | Pressed 150 litres pH 3.0 No SO2 added |
| 27 Oct 2024 | 1.010 | Racked |
| 29 Jan 2025 | 1.008 | 2nd racking |
| 4 Apr 2025 | 1.008 | Bottled. ABV 4.8% |
| 15 Jun 2025 | Released |
Competition success
This blend was awarded first prize in the bottle-conditioned class at the TCCPA competition at Malvern on 15th June, 2025. In addition it picked up the ‘Best in Show’ trophy.
