Cider, the golden global glug.
Ethnographic research with craft cider-makers suggests that part of the authenticity of a craft cider derives from its staying true to the traditions of cider, as opposed to a “commercial cider”, a category often used by craft cider makers to distinguish their brew from those of lesser provenance. While I have discussed ambiguities in the […]
What is ‘commercial’ cider?
During the course of research into craft cider in Wales, I keep hearing the word ‘commercial’ used by the crafters. It is a common term used by craft cider makers operating at a range of scales, from garden cider makers to cider makers with successful ‘commercial’ businesses. ‘Commercial’ is typically used to differentiate between a […]
Tequila: Pulque’s Friend, Cousin, Usurper?
My route into the history of alcohol in Mexico took me through pre-Columbian, colonial and nineteenth-century history, so for me, this area of research has always been synonymous with pulque, the alcoholic beverage that predominated throughout this long time period. But, whenever I introduce myself as a historian of alcohol in Mexico, the first word […]
Cider in Unexpected Places? Rural Chile and the Cider Pressing
For most people the mention of authentic craft cider will probably lead to visions of Somerset and the West Country, so our project’s concentration on Welsh producers of craft cider posed some interesting questions. Contrary to some initial expectations, Emma-Jayne Abbots’s research has found that the Welsh-ness of the product is not that important to […]
Cider-making in Wales: It’s a family affair.
During the course of research into Welsh craft cider I have spoken with many cider-makers at all scales of the craft cider industry in Wales. These range from smallholders with a handful of apple trees to some of Wales’ biggest cider-makers. One of the key themes to emerge from our discussions is the role of […]
The Story of Pulque Part 3: Ritual and Power in Aztec Mexico
In the story of pulque, we have so far thought about different origin stories about pulque and their role in political and cultural processes in Aztec Mexico. Being linked to the origin or discovery of pulque carried a certain prestige value, but why? In many ways, pulque was not singled out, but was one of […]
New Directions in Drinking Studies Conference, 6-7 June 2015
Our Consuming Authenticities project kicked off the papers in what would turn out to be a fantastic conference at the University of Leicester on 6-7 June. This was the New Directions in Drinking Studies conference that I mentioned in a previous post and that I have been organising with my Drinking Studies Network co-ordinator hat […]
We want to hear your view! Collaborators’ Workshop, 16 May 2015
This exciting, interactive whole-day event will give you the opportunity to share your views and experiences about authenticity and pulque / acarajé / flaounes / Welsh cider. It will also be an opportunity to visit the picturesque Aberstwyth and the internationally acclaimed National Library of Wales. When? Saturday, 16 May 2015 (10.00-16.00) Where? National Library […]
“London Cider”- an inauthentic compound?
Whilst researching at the National Library of Wales I came across this book from 1842 (1819): “A practical treatise on breeding, rearing, and fattening all kinds of domestic poultry, pheasants, pigeons, and rabbits” by John Lawrence who was around from 1753 until 1839. At the back of the volume there was a quite in-depth section […]
The Story of Pulque Part 2: A Tangle of Origins
In the last post, I described one of the stories about the discovery of pulque that was recorded in the 17th century and purportedly related to historical events that took place some 7 or 8 centuries previously, in the last generations of the Toltec empire. However, differing accounts of pulque’s origins circulated in pre-Columbian and […]
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