Why 2014 is the year of marmalade

It's set to be a golden year for marmalade with the release of a new Paddington Bear movie, a growing interest in making preserves at home, and a steep rise in export sales.

Marvellous marmalade

Jane Hasell-McCosh (pictured), organiser of the 9th World’s Original Marmalade Awards & Festival, says jars will be flying off the shelves this year, as Brits rediscover their love for the citrus preserve.

“Since we started our awards we’ve seen a definite resurgence in interest in marmalade, with many now making their own preserves at home or opting to buy really good, traditionally-made British marmalade.

“I think in 2014 this trend will continue and, with the new Paddington movie coming out, people are bound to want to get their paws on more and more of these wonderfully golden jars.”

Exports on the rise

Marmalade maker Mackays, based in the Dundee area of Scotland, has seen a significant increase in exports to countries such as Japan, Germany, Denmark, USA and the Czech Republic. Martin Grant, Managing Director of Mackays, said: “We’re seeing a significant uplift in marmalade sales internationally, as we are the last remaining producer of Dundee Orange Marmalade in the area and I think our heritage, coupled with the fact we still make our preserves using traditional copper pans, is key.”

The return of Paddington Bear

Marmalade’s popularity abroad and in the UK will be heightened with the release of the new Paddington movie in late 2014, boasting a star-studded cast including the likes of Colin Firth, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Bonneville and Julie Waters. Karen Jankel, daughter of Paddington creator Michael Bond, said: “Paddington’s favourite food is, of course, marmalade sandwiches and we’d love to see a resurgence in marmalade as a result of the new film. Of course Paddington will also be making a guest appearance at the 2014 Marmalade Festival and hopes to see fellow marmalade lovers there.”

Enter the awards today!

Entries are now open for the Marmalade awards, and the closing date for entries is 13th February 2014. Everyone who enters a jar gets their preserve tasted and judged by experts, and then gets sent a personalised mark card with feedback on how the marmalade can be improved – or if they are lucky, a gold, silver or bronze award. Last year over 1,900 jars were entered (you can see the winners here). The double gold star winner gets their marmalade made by a commercial kitchen, and is then stocked at Fortnum & Mason, and 50p from every jar sold goes to charity.

There’s a wide range of categories for marmalade makers to enter including: ‘Dark & Chunky’; ‘1st Timers’; ‘Marmalade Hall of Fame’ for professional or amateur thespians; ‘WI’ for those who aspire to the high standards set by the Women’s Institute, using a set recipe with set rules; ‘Jelly Marmalade’; and ‘Marmalade to go with sausages’. And new for 2014, the ‘Organic Orange’ category, to champion the fruit from Spanish Seville growers.

The marmalade festival

The awards have raised money for two worthwhile causes: Hospice at Home; and Paddington’s favourite charity, Action Medical Research. Proceeds from amateur entry fees go directly to charity. Since the contest was launched nine years ago, over £120,000 has been raised. And this year anyone entering from Scotland can put part of their amateur entry fee towards Marie Curie Scotland.

Visitors to the Marmalade Festival (1st and 2nd March), held at Dalemain Mansion, near Penrith in the Lake District, get the chance to view the entries, taste over 200 different marmalades, attend workshops, and cruise on the lake with marmalade and wine tasting, among other delights.

The event kicks off National Marmalade Week (1st-8th March), overseen by the awards’ organisers, which encourages people to try, buy or make marmalade.

Do you think more people are eating marmalade nowadays? And will you be entering the marmalade awards this year? We’d love to hear about your recipe in the Comments box below.

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