The World’s Original Marmalade Awards are open for 2020 and it is looking as if there will be record entries to celebrate the 15th year of the competition. Once again, a series of ‘collection points’ have been organised; entrants can deliver their marmalade at these locations for no additional charge, to be sent on to Dalemain for judging. The deadline for entries is 7th February, so entrants should get their jars to a collection point or directly to Dalemain as soon as possible!
A special Marmalade Exchange has been arranged by Fortnum & Mason so that entrants can take their marmalade to their famous Piccadilly store, The Royal Exchange, or St Pancras – ideal for international entrants! If you take your entries in to one of these locations, you will receive a jar of their delicious artisan marmalade in return.
If anyone needs inspiration for marmalade with a more unusual flavour they should go to Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly where there is a magnificent array of exotic citrus fruit. If you have always wanted to attempt a yuzu marmalade, now is your chance.
Lucy Williams, Commercial Director at Fortnum & Mason says: As a champion of fine food and drink for 313 years, Fortnum & Mason are proud to be partnering with the Dalemain Marmalade Awards for its 15th year since its inception in 2005. Fortnum’s is recognised across the world for its wide selection of preserves and we are grateful to have received such a large number of delicious entries year on year. Last year, Beth Furnell’s Bitter Sweet Marmalade beat over 3,000 entries from 40 countries to be crowned 2019’s Homemade Award Winner. We look forward to stocking the successful entry at our flagship store, Piccadilly, from 14th March, giving our customers a chance to try this year’s champion marmalade.
The winner of the 2020 Homemade Awards will have the opportunity to see their marmalade commercially produced and sold at Dalemain Mansion and Fortnum & Mason. Entrants using their collection point could therefore be dropping their jars off at this iconic store, only to return in spring and see their winning marmalade on sale! 50p from the sale of each jar will go to Hospice at Home Carlisle & North Lakeland.
Thursday Cottage are running a collection point from the famous Tiptree Jam Shop in Essex, and are hoping to receive entries from all over the world into their ‘Thursday Cottage Commonwealth Competition’, which will be judged live at the Festival on 14th March. This competition is open to anyone from member states and can include local ingredients and flavours. Thursday Cottage are also offering a jar exchange, so take your entries to them to receive a jar of their finest small-batch preserves in return.
Donna Smith, Director of Thursday Cottage, says: “The start of the year is marked by marmalade making at Thursday Cottage but we are always amazed by the number of individuals and artisan producers submitting entries for the Marmalade Awards. Each year someone surprises us with an unusual combination of flavours or an unusual ingredient creating that very special award-winning marmalade, good luck to all marmalade makers.”
Other collection points include Linnels farm in Northumberland, the Carlisle Tourist Information Centre and the Penrith Hospice at Home shop. If anyone is interested in becoming a collection point next year, they should contact [email protected].
The 2020 Marmalade competition will close on Friday 7th February so entrants must make sure their marmalade is delivered to Dalemain Mansion on or before this date. The 2020 Marmalade Awards & Festival will take place at Dalemain on 14th & 15th March, and will be a celebration of citrus and marmalade across all cultures. There will be marmalade displays and tastings, Japanese green tea tastings, cookery demonstrations, workshops, activities and much more.
For a full list of the collection points, delivery information and opening hours, please visit https://www.dalemain.com/homemade-marmalade-awards/.
For more information about the World’s Original Marmalade Awards & Festival, please visit: https://www.dalemain.com/marmalade-awards/
