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Top Hot Cider In Philadelphia

Cider is made by crushing fruit and is most commonly made with apples, but can be made with other fruits. Cider can be fermented and be alcoholic or just crushed and not fermented to remain non-alcoholic; this is type of cider you get in the grocery store or at farm stands and is usually good for about two weeks. Apple cider is actually more pure than apple juice, which goes through more process and is cut with water; it is also not pasteurized. Apple cider is a fall and winter tradition and is enjoyed hot or cold. Here are the top five places in the Philly area where you can get the best apple cider.

Solebury Orchards
3325 Creamery Road
New Hope, PA 18938
(215) 297-8079
www.soleburyorchards.com

Solebury Orchards is open nearly year round, Thursday-Sunday. The apple picking season is late August through the second week of November, and after having so many apples, fresh apple cider is one of the best ways to utilize them. They sell a variety of baked goods in their market, including apple cider donuts. This orchard adds some whimsy to your trip by giving you a ride out to their fields on a tractor pulled wagon.

Elixir Coffee
207 S. Sydenham St.
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(239) 404-1730
www.elixrcoffee.com

Maybe you need some coffee to get going, besides just desiring some apple cider. At Elixir Coffee, a rustic setting greets you and is prefect for this quintessential fall beverage. They serve up a not-too-sweet warm apple cider here. The coffee is excellent as well, and you have ample room to plug in and work in this coffee shop. You can find sandwiches and desserts if you are stopping in for a snack or lunch.

Franklin Fountain
116 Market St.
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 627-1899
www.franklinfountain.com

The Franklin Fountain is a fun place to visit right in the heart of Franklin Square, which has a lot going on all year round. Franklin Fountain also happens to make some of the best cider you will find in the city. Perhaps it's the atmosphere that adds to people's delights, but either way, when out enjoying your holiday fun, you can warm up with a nice hot, not too sweet apple cider. They also make an ice cream out of it.

Related: Top Spots For Holiday Cocktails In Philadelphia

Capogiro Gelato
119 S. 13th St.
Philadelphia, PA. 19107
(215) 351-0900
www.capogirogelato.com

Capogiro is a family owned business and is primarily known for their ice cream. The food here is so delicious because of the freshness and purity of their ingredients. Besides their famous ice cream and gelato, they also make and serve other items such as apple cider and some exquisite hot chocolate. Here you can try an apple cider with clove. And if you are feeling like some ice cream, small batches of their world-famous ice creams (recognized by National Geographic Magazine as one of the top places in the world for ice cream) are crafted each morning with unique ingredients such as a touch of wild turkey bourbon, muscovado sugar and butter.

Clark Park Farmers Market
43rd St. & Baltimore Ave.
Philadelphia, PA. 19104
www.universitycity.org

If you are just looking to purchase some apple cider by the gallon and perhaps pick up some farm fresh favorites, then a great place to check out is the Farmer's Market in University City. You can get your apple cider hot to warm you up while you're shopping on a cool morning. During the winter months, you will find a variety of ciders from different apples; sometimes it's hard to imagine just how many varieties of apples exist. Clark Park is open on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Related- Top Spots To Go Apple Picking Near Philadelphia

Christina Dagnelli is a freelance writer in Philadelphia and the author of Little Squares with Colors: A Different way to look at autism. Her work on examiner can be found here Examiner.com.

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