421: Explore the Rich History of Chilean Cider w/Punta de Fierro

Cider Chat

Eli Shanks' of Punta de Fierro Fine Cider

In this episode meet Eli Shanks, a passionate cider maker sharing his journey from urban Massachusetts to the picturesque landscapes of Chile, where he co-founded Punta de Fierro Cider. Eli developed an early interest in food systems and agriculture with influences from attending The Farm School, working at The Food Project and running an orchard in Concord, Massachusetts.

Eli Shanks with bottle of Punta de Fierro

The History of Cider in Chile

Chile has a rich tradition in fermenting apples into cider. Historically, cider production was a significant part of the local economy. Families were taxed based on their cider tank space, and cider apples were a staple in many homes. Chilean cider, known as "Chicha", is a farmhouse product with various local recipes, often fermented naturally with residual sugar.

Organizations and Collaborations

Eli has co-founded the Chilean Cider Collective (COSIGI), which aims to preserve and promote Chile’s unique cider heritage. COSIGI works closely with the Department of Agriculture and other local organizations to support cider makers and enhance cider production quality.

Mother Pudu with baby

Chilean Ciders Tasted in this Episode

• Punta de Fierro - is both the name of the cidery and the cider itself. This particular cider tasted during the recording was made in 2022. It was bottle #61 out of 771 bottles in total. All the apples came from one single orchard that Eli and his business partner Carlos Flores produce cider on.
• TenCai Sidra - this cidery is owned by Rene Galindo. We tried two ciders during the recording. The first cider called The Truth. This cider was co-fermented with an indigenous berry called Maqui. They are smaller than blueberries and lend a purplish hue to the cider.
• The second cider -called Futura was made by first grinding the apples and allowing them to macerate for approximately 24hours. The apple blend is Reineta and Braeburn.

All the ciders were feremented dry and are delicious!

Contact Info for Punta de Fierro

• Website: https://puntadefierro.com/

Contact Info for TenCai Sidra

• Website: https://tencaisidra.cl/

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