What Is Medium Sweet Cider?
More sweetness than Medium, but not necessarily as sweet as the name might make you expect. Medium Sweet is all about balance at the sweeter end of the cider scale.
Sweeter, yes. Syrupy, no.
Medium Sweet cider sits between Medium and Sweet.
You'll usually notice more sweetness than you would in a Medium cider, but that doesn't mean the apple flavour disappears underneath it.
At its best, Medium Sweet cider still tastes like cider first.
The sweetness is part of the drink, not the whole drink.
What makes Medium Sweet different?
You're moving towards the sweeter end of the scale, but there should still be enough balance to keep the cider interesting.
Sweetness should support the cider, not flatten it.
A Medium Sweet cider can feel softer and rounder than Medium or Medium Dry.
That can make it particularly appealing to drinkers who enjoy a sweeter style without wanting something at the very sweetest end of the spectrum.
But just like every other cider category, the label only gives you a rough idea of where you're starting.
The apples and the cider maker still have plenty to say.
Why can two Medium Sweet ciders taste different?
Because sweetness is only one part of what you're tasting.
The apples
Different varieties and blends can give the cider very different levels of fruit character, body and freshness.
The balance
One Medium Sweet cider might feel bright and refreshing, while another could be softer, fuller and richer.
The maker
Each producer has their own idea of what a Medium Sweet cider should taste like, and that difference matters.
Medium Sweet on the cider sweetness scale
One step before Sweet.
Medium Sweet generally gives you more noticeable sweetness than Medium, while still stopping short of the sweetest end of the scale.
Does Medium Sweet mean sugary?
Not necessarily.
A good Medium Sweet cider still needs enough apple character and freshness to stop the drink feeling one-dimensional.
That's why one Medium Sweet cider can be refreshing and easy-drinking, while another may feel much richer.
The description tells you roughly where the cider sits.
Your glass tells you the rest.
Want to compare the cider styles?
See how Medium Sweet sits alongside Dry, Medium Dry, Medium and Sweet.
Don't confuse sweeter with simpler.
Medium Sweet cider gives you more noticeable sweetness, but there can still be plenty of variation underneath it.
Different apples. Different makers. Different styles.
So if you enjoy sweeter cider, Medium Sweet can be a very good place to explore.
Pour it. Taste it. Decide for yourself.