What is the Best Marmalade in the World ?
Our regular readers will be, only too painfully, aware that your host is looking for a new raison d’etre and we’ve had several posts on various possibilities - some optimistic, possibly even adventurous - some more grounded and less ambitious.
My latest plan is perhaps not the most exciting, unlike being: The Great Rodini, Grimsby’s Best Doctor or Master Under God the Captain of a ship but it offers a challenge non-the-less.
I am to be a connoisseur of marmalade - a purist of preserve !
A typically hectic afternoon saw your host with his nose to the grindstone; toiling in the salt mine that is the Goldeneye Lifestyle - that is to say; I was of a horizontal nature, in repose if you will, on Lectus El Barto reading an Inspector Lynley, nothing unusual in that - I’m sure most people my age spend their mid-week afternoons similarly employed !
However, and this shows the power of suggestive advertising, on being questioned in a hotel as to what DI Lynley would like to break his fast and offered several options he declared:
“what I’d really like is toast and marmalade”
Well, I’ve not had this in years but once the thought was implanted in that weak and susceptible organ, The Goldeneye Brain, I managed only another 2 pages before I had to revert from the horizontal to the vertical and pad to the shops in search of marmalade.
I bought the best that the venerable tradesmen of Wybers Wood could offer and returned whence I can to sate the urge.
It was, as most indulgences are, not an unpleasant experience but far from satisfying me left me yearning for more and better, again like most indulgences
To that end I am now on a quest to find …
The Best Marmalade in the World
I shall be updating this thread with reviews of each brand I try !
I do need help though, so anybody reading this who has knowledge and experience of fine orange based preserves then please do leave a comment with a suggested brand.
If you are a manufacturer or distributor of such wares then lease feel free to send a sample 
Hot buttered toast with lashings of marmalade to you all
Rod
Witches of Eastwick said,
December 7, 2008 @ 10:16 pm
Rod,
It was with some relief that we see you have moved swiftly on from the previous post…. we were all set to give you a virtual slap but what use would that be… besides you’ve danced your way into our territory with a post on marvellous marmalade and saved yourself in the nick of time
Here is what we have to say on the topic…. go forth dear boy and amaze us all by making your own, tis the season in early January for Seville oranges and it’s not difficult to make, perhaps a little fiddly at worst. You’ll need a large stock making type pan and perhaps if you ask nicely either Mother or one of your lovely lady friends might lend you theirs…. lord knows they all deserve a jar!
WoE
p.s. fail in this task and we’ll unleash that virtual slap…. don’t say we didn’t warn you!
Rod said,
December 8, 2008 @ 6:18 am
WoE
I probably would give it a go but it’s not viable for just a jar or so.
Added to that if I saw how much sugar goes in it I’d never eat it again
Rod
Witches of Eastwick said,
December 8, 2008 @ 12:43 pm
Rod,
What nonsense… of course it’s worth it, just ask LB, there’s nothing like homemade. Consider yourself slapped
WoE
Jordan said,
December 8, 2008 @ 5:08 pm
RC
Follow this link http://marmaladefestival.com/index.html
A day out for you
Jordan
Rod said,
December 8, 2008 @ 6:38 pm
Jordan
what a link - that’s got to be the holy grail !
What a spot as well - The Lake District
As luck would have it I have friends of influence within the hotel trade in the Lake District area so the trip may just be within my limited means.
Thanks Jordan, I’m off back for another look at it
Rod
Rod said,
December 13, 2008 @ 6:16 am
Review of Duerr’s Seville Orange
Delicate taste, fine cut, very nice indeed. Not overly strong or ‘tangy’ so should appeal to those looking for something more subtle.
Very good value for money as well
20% fruit
65% sugar
Witches of Eastwick said,
December 13, 2008 @ 11:51 am
Rod,
At 6.16am you are reporting on a pot of orange flavoured sugar…..are you quite well?
Try a better quality, Tiptree or something similar to even up the score between fruit and sugar.
WoE
Rod said,
December 13, 2008 @ 2:51 pm
WoE
I wold say I’m quite well and perfectly normal that quite what th eopinion of trained medcos would be I can’t say
That choice was the most promising available at the split second, I am already on another brand and aim to try as many as possible
Best
Rod
Rod said,
February 27, 2009 @ 11:14 am
Review of Witches Brew
uses the catchy strap line “It don’t mean a thang if it ain’t got that tang”
Quite the best so far, coarse cut, perfectly tangy and not too sweet.
Sadly for all marmalade lovers out there this is homemade so not comercially available.
Unlucky for you but not me dear reader !
Verdict: Quite superb !
Phil said,
May 4, 2011 @ 10:01 am
Try Mulberry Tree Kitchen products, Abingdon. Small producer but a good range and a superb Seville Rough Cut marmalade.