Cider is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented juice of apples. In the US and some parts of Canada, "cider" refers to unfiltered apple juice, traditionally made with a distinct sweet-tart taste. "Hard cider" is used for the fermented beverage. The juice of any variety of apple can be used in cider making, but cider apples are best. The addition of sugar or extra fruit before a second fermentation increases the alcoholic content of the resulting beverage. Cider is popular in the United Kingdom, especially in the West Country, and widely available. The UK has the highest per capita consumption, as well as the largest cider-producing companies in the world. It is also popular in other European countries including Ireland, France (in particular Brittany and Normandy) and Asturias and Northern Spain (Basque Country). Central Europe also has it own types of cider with Germans in Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse drinking a particularly tart version known as Apfelwein.