Bulmers facts for kids
Bulmers cider is a well-known drink brand from the United Kingdom. It is made by a company called H. P. Bulmer in Hereford, England. This company is now part of a larger group called Heineken. Bulmers is one of the most popular bottled ciders sold in the UK. It comes in different types, like Bulmers Original and Pear. It's important not to mix it up with Bulmers Irish Cider, which is sold as Magners in many places.
Contents
The Story of Bulmers Cider
How Bulmers Started
The story of Bulmers cider began with two brothers, Fred and Percy Bulmer. They grew apples in their family orchard in Credenhill, Herefordshire. These apples were then used to make the cider that became famous.
The first place where they made cider was on Ryelands Street in Hereford. These original buildings, including the cider cellars, are still there today. They are now home to the Cider Museum and King Offa Distillery. Later, in the late 1970s, production moved to a bigger site called Plough Lane.
Today, H. P. Bulmer makes a large amount of the cider sold in the UK. They also produce most of the cider that the UK sends to other countries.
Changes in Ownership
For a while, from 1937 to 1949, Bulmers worked with a company called Wm. Magners from Ireland. This helped them sell their cider in Ireland. After 1949, Magners stopped this partnership. However, they kept the right to use the name H. P. Bulmer Ltd in Ireland.
In 2003, a company called Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) bought the Hereford-based Bulmers firm. Later, in 2008, S&N was bought by two big groups: Carlsberg and Heineken. Now, Bulmers is mainly a brand name and a part of the Dutch Heineken group. The work done in Hereford mostly focuses on making cider.
New Flavours and Looks
In spring 2006, Bulmers Original was relaunched in the UK. It was marketed to be served "over ice," which was becoming very popular. Bulmers Original has 4.5% alcohol and is usually sold in large bottles (568 ml). In November 2007, Bulmers pear cider was introduced.
In summer 2011, Bulmers got a new look and new bottles. They started numbering their different types of cider, like they did in the early 1900s. Original became "No. 9," Pear was "No. 10," and Crisp Blend was "No. 15." At the same time, a new flavour called Red Berry and Lime was launched as "No. 17."
More new flavours were added in the following years:
- In March 2013, "Bulmers Cider Bold Black Cherry" ("No. 19") and "Bulmers Cider Pressed Red Grape" ("No. 20") were added.
- In March 2014, two lower-alcohol flavours were launched: Bulmers Cider Five Fruit Harvest ("No. 21") and Bulmers Cider Indian Summer ("No. 22"). These had 2.8% alcohol.
Some flavours were later stopped and replaced:
- In 2015, the red grape flavour was replaced by "Zesty Blood Orange" ("No. 23").
- In 2016, black cherry was replaced by "Wild Blueberry and Lime" ("No. 24").
Also in 2016, Bulmers changed its bottles again to a smaller size (500 ml). In 2017, they introduced the "Orchard Pioneers" range. These were special ciders made by the company's apple suppliers. The first two were "Kier's Cloudy Apple Cider" ("No. 25") and "Sarah's Red Apple Cider" ("No. 26").
As of 2021, only the Original and Red Berry & Lime flavours are still widely available.
What's in Bulmers Cider?
Apple Juice and Sugar
By law, all cider made in the UK must contain at least 35% apple juice. This apple juice can come from concentrated juice that is imported. Bulmers does not share the exact percentage of apple juice in their products.
In 2014, a study looked at the sugar content in Bulmers cider. It found that a large bottle of Bulmers cider had about five teaspoons (20.5 grams) of sugar. This is almost as much sugar as the WHO suggests an adult should have in a whole day from added sugars. It's also much more sugar than in many types of beer.
Bulmers Cider Flavours
Current Flavours
Currently, there are two main flavours of Bulmers cider available:
- Bulmers Original Cider
- Bulmers Crushed Red Berries and Lime Cider
The "Orchard Pioneers" range also includes:
- Orchard Pioneers: Kier's Cloudy Apple Cider
- Orchard Pioneers: Sarah's Red Apple Cider
Limited Edition Flavours
Over the years, Bulmers has also made several special limited edition flavours:
- Bulmers Light: This was introduced in spring 2008. It had the same alcohol content as Bulmers Original but with 30% fewer calories. It was stopped after a year because it didn't sell well.
- Summer Blend: In summer 2010, this limited edition mixed both apple and pear flavours.
- Red Apple: In autumn 2010, this was a special edition made from Katy apples that were left to ripen fully.
- Crisp Blend: Released in summer 2011, this flavour was made from sharper apples. It had a crisp and slightly drier taste than the Original.
- Bulmers Vintage Reserve: To celebrate the brand's 125th anniversary in 2012, Bulmers released this special cider ("No. 18"). It was made using 100% bittersweet apples from the previous year's harvest.
