When the apples are ripe and ready for harvest, they’re picked gently — by hand or with careful mechanical assistance. We select only the finest apples, perfectly ripe and free from blemishes, to ensure a juice with optimal flavor and aroma. At this stage, we also decide whether the must will be single-varietal or a blend, depending on the apple varieties used.
Five generations. One passion. Since 1888.
What Is Apple Must?
A pure product of nature
Must is 100% apple
Apple juice, or must, is the pure pressed juice from apples — nothing else. A natural product made from 100% apples. From blossom to bottle, we handle every step with care and deep respect for tradition.
On this page, you can follow how our "must" is made — from the apple’s growth in Österlen’s unique orchards to pressing and refinement. We also share the differences between various types of juice, and how our expertise has grown since Henric Åkesson planted his first tree in 1888 — five generations of apple-pressing craftsmanship.
You can also read about our history, the apple trees we plant, and how each variety plays its own unique role in our products — always with the goal of preserving the apple’s natural taste and quality. A goal our repeated awards in the Swedish Juice Championships proudly affirm.
Step by step through our careful process
From bloom to bottle
1. Cultivation
The journey begins in our apple orchards, where the trees are carefully tended to produce fruit of the highest quality. Through grafting and natural pollination, the apples develop the desired characteristics, while we farm sustainably with a strong focus on biodiversity and soil health. Soil composition, climate, and weather all leave their mark on the flavour — and we harvest only when the apples have reached the perfect balance between sweetness and acidity.
2. Harvest & selection
3. Pressing
After the harvest, the apples are carefully washed before being pressed to extract their natural juice. The pressing is done with precision to preserve all the delicate flavors and aromas. Choosing the right pressing method is key to ensuring that each apple variety contributes its very best to the must.
4. Filtration & packaging
The freshly pressed must can be filtered to remove pulp and other solids, resulting in a clear drink — or left unfiltered for a more rustic, cloudy character. After filtration, the must is pasteurized to preserve its fresh flavor and extend its shelf life. Finally, it’s bottled and packaged, ready to be enjoyed at your table.
Like drinking
an apple
Our classic apple must has been around since 1970 and contains nothing but the raw juice from pressed apples. It’s made from 100% Swedish, hand-picked apples — with no additives or preservatives. One liter of must equals about 1.3 kilos of apples. A delicious drink for breakfast, a snack, or to enjoy with your meal.
We offer several categories of must to suit every taste and preference:
Mixed
Contains a blend of several apple varieties, creating a balanced and complex flavor where each apple’s unique character complements the others.
Single-varietal
A "must" made from a single apple variety, offering a pure and distinctive flavor profile that reflects the unique character of that specific apple.
Clear
This must is filtered to remove the pulp, resulting in a clear and light drink with a clean apple flavor.
Unfiltered
Here, the pulp is retained in the must, giving it a fuller, more robust flavor and a naturally cloudy appearance.
We’ve been making "must" for five generations
Rooted in tradition
Since 1935, Kiviks Musteri has been producing apple must for five generations. It all began with Henric Åkesson, who planted the first apple trees in 1888. His son Ivar founded the mustery and began refining apples into must. The third generation, Ingvar Åkesson, modernized production in the 1950s. In the 1990s, Kristina Levinsson and Bengt Åkesson took over and continued to expand the company.
Today, with the fifth generation at the helm, Kiviks Musteri is a modern company that proudly preserves its long tradition of apple must production. Our rich history and experience lend us credibility and reflect our commitment to quality and sustainability in every bottle of must we produce.
The Heart of the Apple Orchard
Österlen
Most of Sweden’s apples are grown here in Österlen, Skåne. This is where sandy soils meet a unique coastal climate — ideal conditions for apple cultivation. The cool Baltic Sea springs protect the trees from early blooming, while the warm autumn days and crisp nights allow the fruit to develop its full flavor.
At Kiviks Musteri, we grow around 50 apple varieties — from beloved classics to rare and unique ones. Each variety is planted where it thrives best and allowed to ripen fully on the tree. The most characterful apples become our award-winning juice and cider, while the rest are put to good use — nothing goes to waste.
Award-winning must
Over the years, Kiviks Musteri has had the pleasure of being recognized in Must-SM — Sweden’s national apple juice competition. In the most recent edition, we were awarded three medals. Our Paradismust was named winner for the fifth time in the category “Clear apple must made from multiple varieties”, while both our Gravensteiner and Cox musts received the distinction of “Best Heritage Must.” These achievements are a testament to our ongoing dedication to refining our products — recognition we are truly proud of.
Did you know that these award-winning musts are part of our premium range, Våra Finaste? This collection brings together drinks made from carefully selected apples, grown and harvested with great care here in Österlen. Through craftsmanship, tradition, and a passion for quality, we aim to create taste experiences as special as the recognition we’ve received — and we hope they’ll make your moments a little brighter.