The first ever National Marmalade Week will takes place from 25 February – 3 March 2012, commencing with The 7th annual World’s Original Marmalade Awards & Festival at Dalemain in the Lake District on 25 and 26 February 2012.
Created by the organisers of The World’s Original Marmalade Awards & Festival, this inaugural awareness week will celebrate all things marmalade and reflects the huge boom in people ‘making their own’.
Entries are now being sought, with every type of marmalade maker welcomed under a wide range of categories, catering for families, children, serious artisan and commercial producers, B&B owners, cookery schools and even those abroad in the international class.
Categories for the 2012 contest include heritage, for recipes handed down through generations, as well as the more modern organic/special dietary requirements.
Organiser Jane Hasell-McCosh said: “Marmalade is one of our national treasures. There’s been a huge resurgence in people making their own marmalade at home which is fantastic news, as well as artisan producers selling preserves, and consumers buying really good quality marmalade”.
“Last year we saw nearly a 50% rise in entries to the awards and, with the launch of National Marmalade Week, we’re hoping to at least match that for 2012.”
Last year over 1,200 entries were sent from all over the world to the awards with the top prize being won by Environment Minister Lord Henley.
His marmalade, made using his grandmother’s recipe, is now being sold at Fortnum & Mason in London who commissioned Thursday Cottage to use the recipe – this is a prize that will again be on offer for the best marmalade in the forthcoming 2012 Awards.
The event boasts the sponsorship backing of some of the most famous names in marmalade – Mackays, Thursday Cottage, Fortnum & Mason, The Jam Jar shop and Paddington Bear.
Marmalade Awards & Festival Categories
Artisan Competition rewarding the Double Gold winner with the unique opportunity to have their marmalade sold at Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly, London.
This sets a standard that is internationally recognised and offers a significant business opportunity for winning entrants. Gold, silver & bronze awards will be given to the best marmalades with specially designed certificates to display.
Bed & Breakfast, Hotel Owners’ & Cookery Schools’ Competition, for those in the hospitality trade who serve their own preserves to guests.
Amateur Competition comprising:
- Seville Orange Marmalade for the traditionalists!
- Its A Family Affair where whole families, groups of friends and schools can enter…either with children or without
- Any Citrus Marmalade
- Dark &/or Chunky
- Marmalade Man Made with two categories: Seville; and Dark &/or Chunky
- Organic/special dietary requirement
- Heritage (sponsored by Mackays) using recipes handed down the generations
- Peers & Political
- Merry with alcohol
- International (sponsored by Mackays) – fly your national flag and add a local twist!
Entries for the Artisan & Bed & Breakfast/Hotel Awards must be received by 10 February 2012 and amateur entries must be received by 17 February 2012 and can be accepted from NOW ON.
Judging for the amateur categories at The World’s Original Marmalade Awards will be undertaken by a prestigious panel of judges including preserving expert and author Pam Corbin, Tiptree managing director Walter Scott and Dan Lepard, award-winning baker and Guardian food writer who will taste the hundreds of expected entries.
More information
Further entry details including a downloadable entry form, category criteria, submission details and entry fees can be found by visiting: www.marmaladeawards.com
All amateur entry fees will be donated to charity. The 2012 beneficiaries are Hospice at Home and Action Medical Research.
The World’s Original Marmalade Awards & Festival, now in its seventh year, will also include: a marmalade Church service, the presence of the world’s most famous marmalade lover, Paddington Bear, children’s and adult workshops, marmalade cruises, a marmalade concert, a food fair, over 100 delicious marmalades to taste and of course, Dalemain’s marmalade coloured aconites and the beautiful snowdrop walk.