Perry and Pear Cider: Perry and pear cider are the closest relatives of cider. The more traditional perry is made from the fermentation of the juice of “perry pears.” There are about 100 of these pear varietals and they are all tannic, bitter, and essentially inedible. Pear cider refers to drinks that do not use perry pear varietals (such as sweet dessert pears), use pear flavorings or concentrate, as well as to pear-flavored ciders or blends of apple and pear cider (occasionally referred to as “pider”). Perry and pear cider is normally lighter weight than apple-based cider and is usually a bit sweeter due to the non-fermenting sorbitol found in pears. Even though I classify all of these drinks together in one category, be careful and read labels and reviews first as there is a wide range of flavor profiles from bold and astringent to light and sweet.