The participating cider producers gave away more than 30.000 liters of cider , and 10.000 cider glasses bearing the Festival's commemorative logo were on sale. Endless queues converged on a single venue, and notaries took notes to ensure everything was properly documented. Speakers, microphones in hand, further enlivened the atmosphere.
The record, broken year after year on Gijón's Poniente beach at the end of August, usually creates unforgettable scenes . Thousands of bottles of Asturian cider are raised in unison, thousands of glasses are held in other hands, and in an instant, thousands of vertical jets of cider unleash the unique cider-drinking spirit of the Principality. A veritable cider storm , with thunderous jubilation, flashes of euphoria, and intoxicating spray.
Poniente Beach
Artificial and urban , Poniente is a young beach, created in the mid-90s on the western side… Read more
The ritual unfolds through a series of steps that everyone must respect to achieve that magical simultaneity and a glorious moment. The rhythm is set by the honking of horns that alert everyone: "First honk, glass down; second, bottle up; third, we pour the cider; and fourth: those in the back row turn around, the lobsters are starting to come out of the water ." And the obedient crowd perfectly fulfills its role. At the climactic moment, the Villa de Xixón bagpipe band moves more than one person with "Asturias, patria querida" (Asturias, beloved homeland). Later, to celebrate the record, applause alternates with "Gijón del alma" (Gijón of the soul). The point is to sing.
The Guinness World Record is usually the excuse, as well as the culminating moment, of a celebration with many other events to pay homage to the apple queen and her firstborn, cider.
The cider pouring competition held in the town hall square awards the art of cider pouring, embodied by a person who, above all others, knows how to synthesize in the stream a perfect balance of composure, timing, touch, and grace. The "Golden Praise" award is also given to the cider with the most authentic flavor served at the festival.
We can also stroll through the cider and apple market , set up in the Queen's Gardens. If we're unfamiliar with the culinary and decorative possibilities of apples, here are a few clues: cakes, pies, liqueurs, apple yogurt ice cream, caramel apples for those with a sweet tooth, apple-scented candles for the romantics, and then all those figurines of cider pourers of every kind, collected by the traditional artisans of the Principality, which in this case exemplify one of the cultural derivatives of the quintessential regional fruit.
The festival leaves no one indifferent, and few leave without that subtle, intoxicating hint of cider. Some overdo it, and that little bit becomes a full-blown buzz. The point is to enjoy yourself to whatever degree you deem appropriate; after all, it's a unique record , and you shouldn't miss the opportunity. In 2022, 9.796 glasses of cider were poured simultaneously.
XXXIV Natural Cider Festival
This 34th edition will be held… Read more
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
