14th February 2010

The most delicious event on the preserve maker's calendar is approaching, as top producers and home cooks around the world compete for The World's Best Marmalade title and help to raise money for Hospice at Home, the dedicated nursing service caring for people with terminal illness.

This year Jonathan Miller, Sweet Grocery Buyer at Fortnum's, is on the panel of esteemed judges. He will be helping judge the home-made marmalades on appearance, presentation, set, aroma and flavour in several categories (detailed below).  Winning entries may be stocked at Fortnum's which means this festival and competition really is a fantastic opportunity.

Monday 8 March, Magnificent Marmalade

To celebrate this wonderful festival we are hosting a Breakfast in the Gallery at Fortnum’s to taste the winners of this fierce-fought contest to crown the world’s best artisan marmalade maker.
Ticket Price: £22.50 Time: 9am Location:The Gallery Restaurant
Reservations: 0845 602 5694.

Everything you need to know about the Marmalade Festival 

Entering the competition is easy, and there are lots of categories to suit your style of marmalade making. For home cooks, the categories are: Seville Orange Marmalade; Romantic Marmalade (sponsored by Tiptree); Citrus Marmalade (sponsored by Rose's); Military Marmalade, for home cooks with family in the Armed Forces (sponsored by Frank Cooper's) in aid of Help for Heroes; Children's Marmalade, made by those under the age of 16 (sponsored by Robertson's); Dark Chunky Marmalade; Merry Marmalade, marmalade with alcohol; Man-Made Marmalade, for brave chaps; and Clergy Marmalade, for ministers, rabbis, monks and anyone working with a religious group. As you see, there is a category for everyone.

Anyone can enter, (so long as you've made the marmalade yourself), and the judging is monitored by The Cumbria-Cumberland Federation of Women's Institutes, so there is no better opportunity to test your best against marmalades from all around the world.

You'd be surprised where we get entries from. Japan has a strong marmalade-making community. We've had entries from Canada and the US, and – of course -  from the UK. Scotland is arguably the home of great women cooks stirring up mightily fragrant pots of classic Seville orange marmalade, but the rest of British Isles are well represented. To prove this, last year’s winner was from Morden in London. So if you've been wondering whether your own jar is a prize winner then don't delay and send it in. So often we get delighted emails from entrants saying, "I didn't realise the judges would score it so highly".

You'd be surprised where we get entries from. Japan has a strong marmalade-making community.

Commercial marmalade makers are not forgotten. Their categories are: Artisan Producers Marmalade (sponsored by Fortnum & Mason); and Bed and Breakfast Marmalade, for anyone running a B&B who makes their own marmalade. There are many related events in the month leading up to the festival. Our Marmalade Workshop on the 3rd February is a unique opportunity to enjoy a day in front of Dalemain’s Aga, watching Annette Gibbons OBE  conjuring up citrus recipes to tantalise the tastebuds and create new cooks. Click here for a booking form. On the 4th February we are holding a 'Taste of Marmalade Cruise’ , with a two-course marmalade lunch in the Dalemain Mansion Mediaeval Hall. On the 13th February we have our 'Peal of Marmalade' concert with The Wordsworth Singers, at St. Andrew's Church, Penrith. The weekend of the competition itself is stuffed with thrilling things to do.

To enter, all you need to do is read through the rules here, fill out an application form, package your marmalade entry well (see the demonstration video below) and send it - together with your entry form and entry fee - £5 per jar; £1 for children; commercial entries £25 for first jar, £18 for subsequent jars - to us by Sunday 7th February.

Either post your entries or leave it at one of our collection points around the country. For full details just click here.