Originally from Picardy, and more specifically Aisne, Thiérache cider is a popular drink, both for its flavour and for its low alcohol content. Handmade, with no preservatives, additives or chemical sweeteners, it is a delicate sparkling beveragewith a golden-orange colour and slightly sour taste.
Enjoyed since the 17thcentury, Thiérache cider enjoyed a golden age between the mid-19thcentury and the mid-20thcentury, before suffering from a farming crisis. Since the 1970s, it has once more become a major product in the region.
Composed of different varieties of apples that take two months to reach maturity, it ferments for 40 days to become a sweet cider and at least 6 months to become a dry cider. In addition to its refreshing quality, because it is consumed at a temperature of about 10° C, Thiérache cider is appreciated as an aperitif, with crème de cassis, or in the local cuisine.
An Apple and Cider Festival is organised every year at Lemé in the second weekend of October. For two days, you can visit a flea market, enjoy fresh cider or sample traditional pastries from the region.