Campden Tablets: Essential Protection for Wine and Cider

Campden Tablets are a must-have for any homebrewer or winemaker, offering essential protection for your wine, cider, and other beverages. These small, easy-to-use tablets contain potassium metabisulfite, a compound that plays a crucial role in preserving your brew by preventing unwanted oxidation and inhibiting the growth of wild yeast and bacteria.

What Are Campden Tablets Used For?

Campden Tablets are primarily used to sterilize musts and worts before fermentation, ensuring that your yeast has a clean environment to work in without competition from wild strains. They are also used to stabilize wine or cider after fermentation is complete, preventing further fermentation and spoilage. Additionally, Campden Tablets are effective at neutralizing chlorine and chloramine in tap water, which can otherwise lead to off-flavours in your finished product.

Dosage and How to Use

• Pre-Fermentation Sterilization: To sterilize your must or wort before fermentation, use one Campden Tablet per gallon (3.8 litres) of liquid. Crush the tablet and dissolve it in a small amount of water or directly into the liquid, then stir thoroughly. Allow 24 hours before pitching your yeast to ensure the potassium metabisulfite has dissipated enough to allow fermentation to start.
• Post-Fermentation Stabilization: After fermentation is complete and you are ready to bottle, use one Campden Tablet per gallon to stabilize your wine or cider. This helps to prevent further fermentation in the bottle and extends the shelf life of your beverage.
• Neutralizing Chlorine in Water: If using tap water that contains chlorine or chloramine, add one Campden Tablet per 20 gallons (76 litres) of water. Crush the tablet and stir it into the water before using it for brewing.

Why Use Campden Tablets?

Campden Tablets provide a convenient and reliable way to protect your wine or cider from oxidation, spoilage, and off-flavours. By ensuring a clean, stable environment for fermentation and storage, these tablets help you achieve a higher quality, longer-lasting beverage. Whether you’re sterilizing your must, stabilizing your finished product, or improving the quality of your brewing water, Campden Tablets are an essential tool in your winemaking or brewing kit.