The Larraldea cider house in Lekaroz reopened to the public yesterday, now converted into a cooperative of 14 members under the name Eztibeltza, one of the apple varieties of Baztan, which forms a trio with Eztigorri and Eztixuri.

Like its predecessor, it belongs to the Asociación de Productores Artesanales de Sidra en Navarra (Navarre’s association of artisan cider makers) and, as well as serving cider and the classic menu, it will offer guided tours of the 18th-century stone cider press in Gamioxarrea, Arizkun, and organise cultural events.

The cider house, now 30 years old, thus carries on with its business. In recent months, members and friends have renovated the premises. A week ago they all came together to celebrate the reopening, which took place this Friday. They made the purchase in August and got to work. They have had a large network of helpers, both for picking the apples and for making the cider. More than 40 people took part in the auzolan (community work). The celebration featured the sound of the kirikoketa, the Jo ala Jo giants and the sagardantza (cider dance). The kirikoketa is a percussion instrument similar to the txalaparta, which has its origins in the pounding of apples to extract the juice that later becomes cider. Its main elements are planks laid on the ground and mallets. The name is in fact an onomatopoeia of the sound made while doing this work.