{"id":2098,"date":"2019-04-10T10:00:40","date_gmt":"2019-04-10T10:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/devoursansebastianfoodtours.com\/?p=2098"},"modified":"2024-07-31T17:25:07","modified_gmt":"2024-07-31T17:25:07","slug":"basque-cider","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/basque-cider\/","title":{"rendered":"Basque Cider: History, Traditions & Best Food Pairings"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the midst of the animated chatter that fills any Basque cider house during the high season, only one word truly matters: “\u00a1Txotx!”<\/p>\r\n

That lone syllable\u2014pronounced “choch”\u2014is enough to empty every seat in the room as diners make their way to the massive barrels that hold the Basque Country’s single greatest alcoholic treasure. The interjection essentially means that a new barrel is about to be opened, unleashing another round of cider to the cheerful masses<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

While it might seem impossible that a single five-letter exclamation can have so much influence, that’s exactly what txotx<\/em> has achieved. This one word has transformed Basque cider from a drink into a social ritual<\/strong> enjoyed by everyone from lifelong Basque Country natives to first-time visitors to the region.<\/p>\r\n

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The traditional pouring method for cider is not only about serving style but also about enhancing the taste.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n
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What is Basque cider?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Before you grab your glass and start running towards the nearest barrel at the first call of txotx<\/em>, you should probably know what it is you’re drinking. Basque cider (called sidra<\/em> in Spanish or sagardo<\/em> in Basque), after all, is one of the most popular drinks in San Sebastian<\/a>, but it’s a bit different from other hard ciders you may be familiar with.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The base ingredient, of course, is apples. But in order to get that prestigious D.O. Euskal Sagardoa<\/a> label, only Basque apples may be used<\/a>. Each bottle of cider contains around one kilo (2.2 pounds) of apples. The fruit is harvested in October; washed, chopped, and pressed; and finally left to ferment naturally in barrels without the addition of any sugars or other substances.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The final product is a dry, unfiltered, flat beverage containing about 6 percent ABV. Due to its only ingredient being apples, Basque cider is high in vitamin C, and its crisp, refreshing taste makes it easy to drink.<\/p>\r\n

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Cider aged in barrels.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Cider’s delicious history<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Cider production in the Basque Country boasts a long and storied tradition, with the first known reference to the drink dating back to the 11th century. Within the next 100 years, cider became even more popular in Europe than wine. The Basque Country, at that time home to a flourishing population of apple orchards, was the prime source of this delicious natural nectar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Basque cider enjoyed continued popularity throughout the medieval and Renaissance periods. There’s even proof that in the 15th and 16th centuries, Basque whaling and codfish vessels that sailed to Greenland and Newfoundland brought plenty of cider along with them on board. The drink’s alcohol content meant that it kept well without spoiling during the long voyages, and its high amount of vitamin C helped the sailors avoid the dreaded scurvy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Cider houses and the origins of “txotx”<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Basques have been enjoying cider in sagardotegi<\/em>, or cider houses<\/a>, for hundreds of years. Often housed in rustic, traditional farmhouses, they originally were simply the places where locals would go to buy cider, often bringing a meal along with them to avoid drinking on an empty stomach. The savvy owners of these establishments soon realized that serving food would help improve business even more, and the sagardotegi<\/em> began to take on even greater importance as social spaces where friends and family would gather to share a meal and good conversation along with their cider.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Today, it’s impossible to spend any amount of time inside a Basque cider house without hearing that rallying cry of “\u00a1Txotx<\/em>!” But compared to the long and storied history of the drink itself, txotx<\/em> is a newer phenomenon in comparison.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A little more than a century ago, cider producers needed to facilitate a way for potential buyers to try small amounts of their various ciders<\/a> before deciding which varieties they wanted to purchase by the bottle. The solution: making a small hole in the barrel so that the cider could squirt out directly into the glass. The hole was originally covered back up with rendered animal fat, but over the years, a small wooden pick (called a txotx<\/em> in Basque) was used instead. That’s right\u2014that famous cry that gets everyone out of their seats to line up for cider essentially means “toothpick.”<\/p>\r\n

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“Txotx<\/em>” is the cheer locals say when the plug is removed from the cider barrel. Make sure your glass is ready!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Enjoying Basque cider today<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

After the apples are harvested in October and the drink ferments for several months, cider season officially kicks off in the Basque Country around January 15. Before that, though, local Whatsapp groups are aflutter with conversations centered around the big moment itself, as friends plan their cider house experiences weeks in advance. After all, Spanish and Basque cultures are famously social, and nobody wants to go to the cider house without their cuadrilla<\/em> (a distinctly Basque term for a group of friends).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

“The excitement starts even before the 15th, when you try and set up a cider house date with your cuadrilla<\/em>,” says Maialen Franco, a born-and-bred San Sebastian native. “The best thing about txotx<\/em> season is that it gives you an excuse every year to get together with your friends and have an unforgettable time.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Don’t have a cuadrilla<\/em> of your own just yet? It’s as easy as making a new local friend. Basque Country residents are friendly, open, and proud of their cultural heritage\u2014especially their gastronomy\u2014and an unforgettable cider house experience could be in your near future.<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

“I’ll never forget the first time a friend took me to a cider house in the sleepy village of Astigarraga,” says San Sebastian resident Ania Wielechowska. “Everything was attractive there, from the trip to the farmhouse, to the food, to the cider pouring, to the bustling and cheerful atmosphere.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Navigating a Basque cider house<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

When you step into the sagardotegi<\/em>, you’ll be handed a glass. Take it, head into the rustic dining room, and find a table (keep in mind that more traditional establishments have high tables and no chairs, so you’ll eat standing). From there, it’s time to dig into the traditional multi-course cider house meal. The menu typically includes:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n