I spent the day on here yesterday getting to know people and decided this weekend to come back and share something that has reminded me of home Sweden in a funny sort of way, even though it’s very British.
Food is a pleasure zone for me for sure. I look forward to what I am going to eat every day and flavours and smells create memories and reminders of happy times gone by. I haven’t snooped for a while but a gift I received over the holidays has brought me back to share and reading a load of other product snoops from Fortnums in the Uk. Clearly a popular place for food lovers like me. I’ve taken a few recommendations so here’s mine to add to the list. IN Sweden we’re made our own, I am not a great cook but Marmalade is very easy and unlike jam no problems getting it to set, you just boil fruit sugar and a dash of white vinegar then pop it in a jar but I honestly don’t think you could ever make anything yourself that tastes better than this.
Orange Fortnums (and Mason) and Champagne Heavenly Breakfast Marmalade or apelsinmarmelad.
My breakfast combo of choice growing up in Sweden was cheese and marmalade. The treat I looked forward to consisted of two slices of lightly toasted bread, thick slices of mild cheese (my favourite was called ”Baronost,” Baron cheese), topped off with what was referred to back home as ”British orange marmalade”
Since living and working in London I have discovered the very best orange marmalade I’ve ever ever tasted at Fortnum and Mason. The same place I buy the Moroccan Mint tea from, another find if you love fresh mint tea and don’t have time to make it.
They call it Bucks Fizz in a jar equally delicious but longer lasting with no hangover.
And they’d be right, whomever “they” is.
This marmalade is show stopping, award winning, makes you buy better bread to warrant putting the marmalade on it and gives you a little joyous feeling when you wake up in the morning and remember there’s a new jar downstairs waiting for you.
For anyone who struggles getting out of bed especially in the winter this just might be the incentive you need.
What makes it so special and noteworthy
Well first off the price at £8.50 a jar for the small one. 340g. I’d rather pay £16 for the bigger one where you get a massive 840g (1lb 12 oz) of glistening liquid gold, almost three times the quantity for double the price.
You don’t have to worry about it expiring, it rarely lasts long enough to even warrant keeping it in the fridge. I keep it in the cupboard without issue.
It’s everything a great homemade product is and more. It doesn’t taste boozy, just luxurious, with thick shreds of orange peel, sweetly coated in the jelly like syrup where the marmalade hasn’t quite set so you get a combination of texture and well as a combination of taste.
It’s one of those things that’s simply a show stopper. I’ve even served it to people, guests who categorically say “no thanks I don’t like marmalade” and been converted and with cheese.
Even the budget conscious I believe would try it once and it will become a wont that cannot be skipped.
Who can afford £16 for a jar of marmalade, it’s a lot but we all find money for the things we just can’t live without. When you think a packet of 20 Camel now costs over £20 (I don’t smoke anymore I just overheard someone buying them in my local convenience store and was staggered) it makes the marmalade, in relative pleasure terms extremely good value.
https://www.fortnumandmason.com/orange-champagne-marmalade-amphora-800g