Since 1924, Hoeve Huids has grown apples and pears. In the beginning on standard trees with cows grazing in their shade, nowadays on low stem. The company currently consists of 28 hectares of apples, 6 hectares of pears and 1 hectare of sweet cherries. Since 2018, the production of cider has been added to this. These orchards are also part of the
Berg and Terblijt - Houthem St. Gerlach.
Landscape and climate
On the edge of the plateau in the Heuvelland, the trees with their roots in the Limburg loess. Climate change poses an increasing challenge here. The trees and the fruit are exposed to weather influences such as night frost, sun and hail. Hail cannons, the construction of a water basin and the covering of the cherries prevent damage.
Planted varieties
The apple varieties planted are Delcorf, Wellant, Elstar, Joly Red and Junami. The Conference and Doyenné de Comice pears can be found in the pear orchard. The sweet cherries are of the varieties Kordia, Korvick, Karina, Regina, Simone Lapins and Sweetheart.
cider process
The common types of fruit that are used for the cider are the Elstar apple and Conference pear. These are ground and pressed into juice. The sugars and acids are measured and a yeast is added.
Apart from the necessary yeast and sulphite, the cider contains no other additives that can affect the aroma and the final taste. To provide the cider with extra aromas, standard apples such as Red Devil are added. The fermentation process then starts, after which a fresh blend is made. There are also other flavors where own honey or cherry liqueur is added.
This combination makes the apple cider a refreshing thirst-quencher with which Fruitbedrijf Huids wants to convey the feeling of Burgundian enjoyment.
