Food with Attitude

The World’s Original Marmalade Awards & Festival was held at Dalemain Mansion near Penrith, Cumbria. Lord Henley’s marmalade, a traditional orange recipe, will now be made by Thursday Cottage and sold at Fortnum & Mason in London.

Competition Was Fierce

Over 1,100 marmalade makers from all over the world sent in their jars to be judged, a record number. Other winners included a team of 11 marmalade makers from Buninyong in Australia who had challenged a team from Britain to a ‘MarmalAshes’ contest, a man from the British Virgin Islands who scooped the International award and a commercial maker from Ludlow who was awarded best artisan. Over 150 Guides also helped to make the world’s largest jar of marmalade at the Cumbrian event.

Standards on the Up and Up

Organiser Jane Hasell-McCosh said: “The standard of entries has gone up hugely and we have been overwhelmed by the number. We’ve also seen a marked increase in entries sent in from all parts of the UK and from abroad, countries as far afield as Japan and Australia. It’s been a fantastic success.”

What the Judges Say

Judge Jonathan Miller from Fortnum & Mason said: “It was a close run thing but Lord Henley’s marmalade swung the vote decisively. It was an excellent all-rounder.” The winning marmalade will be sold at the company’s famous Piccadilly store in the next couple of months.

A Word from the Winner

Lord Henley said of his win: “I am absolutely delighted to have won the award for the Peers and Political category, never mind Best In Show. I am very gratified.” This is the third time Lord Henley, who used his mother’s recipe, has entered the awards.

Winners included:

Seville Orange, sponsored by Mackays – Janet Dixon Smith of Leicestershire

It’s a Family Affair, sponsored by Robertson’s and Paddington Bear – Liz Bellafontaine from Suffolk

Any Citrus, sponsored by Rose’s – Atay Dervish of Walthamstow, London

Dark and Chunky – Mrs L Danielis of Carlisle

Man Made (Seville), sponsored by Frank Cooper’s – John Swannell of London

Man Made (Dark and Chunky), sponsored by Frank Cooper’s – Jonathan Hamel Cooke of Aylesbury

Peers and Political – Lord Henley of Carlisle

Military – Roger Bingham of Milnthorpe

Merry, sponsored by Laithwaites – Fiona Bird of Angus

Clergy – Dr Susan Jones of Grange Over Sands, Cumbria
International, sponsored by Mackays – William Tacon of Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Inventive, sponsored by Thursday Cottage – Jayne Salt of Cumbria
B&B, sponsored by Sawday’s – Fiona Henderson of Moville B&B, Perthshire

Artisan Double Gold, which will also be stocked at Fortnum & Mason – Ludlow Food Centre

Winner of the MarmalAshes!

A special award will be given to a team of 11 marmalade makers from Buninyong in Australia. They have won the first ever ‘MarmalAshes’ – ashes from two wooden marmalade spoons from Britain and Australia.  Read all about it >

Sales Increase

With a glut of recent headlines suggesting UK marmalade sales are falling, the record number of entries for this year’s awards goes to prove the preserve is still popular with Brits and that a growing number are now making their own.

Who Were the Judges?

Judging for the categories was undertaken by members of the local WI as well as a prestigious panel of judges including food historian Ivan Day, Robert Parker from Tiptree, Tim Came, MD of Thursday Cottage and Dan Lepard, award-winning baker and Guardian food writer.

For More Information:

Further details of the festival and its winners can be found by visiting: www.marmaladeawards.com.

Donation to Charity

All amateur entry fees will be donated to charity. The 2011 beneficiaries are Hospice at Home and Action Medical Research.