Created by my grandmother during the height of wartime rationing, this zesty preserve was a labour of both love and necessity. With oranges scarce and sugar carefully hoarded, she crafted this bright, punchy jam using every last part of the fruit – peel, pulp and all. So popular was her creation that neighbours would willingly share their precious sugar rations and leftover orange shells just for a small jar of this citrus treasure.
It became more than a treat. It was a moment of brightness in a grey time. So memorable, in fact, that it was served in jam sandwiches to child evacuees arriving in North Wales – frightened, far from home, and welcomed with the kind of kindness only a grandmother’s kitchen could offer.
Boldly citrus and full of character, this jam delivers a serious orange punch with a slightly bittersweet finish. It is unapologetically simple – just good fruit, cooked slowly and traditionally to bring out every note of flavour. There are no artificial thickeners, no shortcuts, just the kind of honest food that speaks of another time.
Spread generously over warm crumpets, spoon onto toast, or use to fill sponge cakes for a nostalgic nod to teatimes past. It also makes a thoughtful and meaningful gift for anyone with a love of history, heritage or simply a proper jar of jam.
Made in small batches in North Wales, this is a preserve that not only tastes extraordinary but carries a story worth telling – a tribute to those who made the most of little, and turned necessity into something quite wonderful.
Honest. Fragrant. Unforgettable.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.