How to make Turbo Cider.

[Lee Week]

Thank you for taking the time to reply Graz

I think the "nailed" turbo cider recipe is in the first post on this thread. I've made it many a time and churned out some semi decent stuff. Main thing to remember is that this is making cider on the cheap so don't expect something amazing at the end.

Sorry for not wording it properly.
When I mentioned about hoping someone would have nailed a tc by now, I was referring to a tc that was sweet, strong, carbonated & had a flavour.

Roddy posted the recipe back in 2014 & he obviously spent a lot of time doing research along with some trial and error to get a very good tc recipe, that an awful lot of people have used.
The last thing I want to do is upset anyone, by them thinking that I am slating it.

I appreciate that this is cheap cider hence wanting to add a flavour to make it have a bit more presence, if that makes sense, also to make it stronger
I will definitely look into the Lowciz syrup and caramel syrup.

 

[Libigage]

Is this OK for a turbo cider? I have the cranberry one and the tropical one. None of them mention preservatives

 

[obscure]

This should be fine from what I can see it’s just Lidl brand fruit juice from concentrate (I use the similar Tesco brand myself which works well).

 

[Laner]

Is this OK for a turbo cider? I have the cranberry one and the tropical one. None of them mention preservatives

What is the price per pack?

 

[Libigage]

Apple juice £1.65 for 1.5 litres
Cranberry juice £0.99 for 1 litre
Tropical £1.69 for 1.5 litres

 

[old dog new tricks]

I use the cheapest out out there Aldi cheapest or Asda as their 4 multi pack is £3.75 for 4

Generally find that a lot of taste is down to the yeast and how strong you wish to make it, stronger you get less taste I find I either end up back flavouring/sweetening or have a very dry cider.
I tend to use CML cider yeast as always ferments well and supermarket juice leaves hardly any sludge in the bottom.

Biggest tip is time let it settle or if you want to try wine or beer finings by all means, don't be scared to let it sit for 3 or 4 weeks before you bottle carbonate it. add sugar the yeast will react just slower.

Likewise once bottled and carbonated let it settle for few weeks it will taste better !

If you find its a bit tasteless or over dry try adding a small amount of sweetener of your choice you will be amazed how much more apple you can taste.

Don't be afraid to try anything in with it other flavour juices etc or frozen fruit is good as well but few more steps to stop it rotting

 

[Libigage]

How much sweetener do you add to a demi john of cider. It's my first time so I'm not really sure what I'm doing. I'm not a cider drinker, I just fancied trying it. I used the juice I showed in post 382. Please don't say " add to taste " I've tasted it, but I can't tell what it needs, if anything. Perhaps I'll bottle and add different amounts. Just wondered if there is a regular amount per bottle.

 

[RoomWithABrew]

Well if it's too dry in the glass you can sweeten it then.

But if it's too sweet you have nowhere to go.

 

[jof]

With last year's batch of real (no turbo) cider I use 2-3 sweeteners per demijohn. I tried 1 sweetener per 500ml bottle but found that too much.

The important thing is that it will change depending on the apples (in your case juice brand) used and even on the seasonal conditions for growing/harvesting, and you need to make your product to your preferred taste.

As a homebrewer you should embrace the small changes between batches, you're not some big company churning out consistent identical cans.

 

[Rodcx500z]

I made 2 20L batches last year using just juice, no teabags or sweetening and found it ok, it was very much on par with the cheap stuff from Aldi

 

[jof]

I made 2 20L batches last year using just juice, no teabags or sweetening and found it ok, it was very much on par with the cheap stuff from Aldi

I'm pretty sure a lot of that cheap stuff is made from apple squash apple concentrate & sugar.

 

[old dog new tricks]

It depends on how long you let it age the longer you leave less sugar generally needed as flavour of the base comes through easier.
non aged a little sweetener works to bring out the taste I would recommend powered sweetener the yellow one sucralose, the green one stevia leaves a taste I find.

how much that all down to taste i find a teaspoon or 2 per DJ is enough but i like dry cider.

You can get cider yeast with sweetener built in if unsure

 

[Bob the Duck]

Here is my version of the Turbo cider done quite a few batches over the last year tweaking proportions but happy with this now
I think the cranberry adds a little interest without making it taste like a fruit cider and it clears perfectly without the need for Pectolase

16L Tesco growers harvest apple juice (price matched to aldi but higher sugar content)
2L Tesco cranberry juice
2L strong black tea (7 bags stewed 10 mins)
700g white sugar (dissolved in the tea)
1.5 tsp malic acid
1 tsp acid blend
Harris cider yeast

perfectly drinkable as soon as bottle conditioned but i keg and force carb leave it a month to condition and its almost too drinkable for a 7.5% cider with a better flavour than any of the cheaper brands of cider in my opinion