I had a toasted baguette with marmalade this morning, and that got me to wondering: Just what is the different between jam and marmalade?
You can find attempts at answering this question here and here. (By the way, I appreciated the targeted ad for The Jam on the second one of this pages.)
Exercise for the Reader: Suitably adapt an appropriate reference from Spaceballs.
2 days ago
16 comments:
Uh, those two links were the same?
I've wondered the same thing many times and my conclusion generally matched that breakdown.
Once difference for me, though:
"Jam, jelly, and preserves can be successfully used in peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as well as on buttered toast, english muffins, or biscuits. Marmalade may not -- nay, MUST not -- be used with peanut butter in a sandwich."
Thanks for the correction. That was a bit of a failure on my part. I couldn't find the other link that I saw yesterday, but I have found another one that is useful to use in its place.
After Sunday's experience, I tentatively prefer jam to marmalade. Orange marmalade wasn't as good on my baguette as strawberry jam. I especially like peach, though.
I have always gone through life using the following rule: Marmalade = Citrus, Jam = Anything else. I suspect the marmalade concept lends itself to confusion from Americans are you are generally told that jam = jelly and jelly seems to me to be a more catch-all term in the US than jam is in the UK. Maybe we should try and spread (if you will pardon the pun) the message that jelly = jam or marmalade.
Re the preference for jam: Marmalade can come in a number of types and a dislike for one type does not indicate a general dislike for all marmalades. They range greatly in sweetness and while you will generally only find sweet jams you can find quite bitter marmalades. As a general rule, the darker the marmalade the bitterer it is.
Re peach jam: If you enjoy peach jam might I suggest you try apricot jam. This is one of my favourites :)
The orange marmalade that Green's uses was pretty bitter.
Yes, there is somewhat of a snobbery issue with marmalade too. The bitterer marmalades are considered better by some. In addition to the colour being an indication of bitterness, you will also find that the more expensive the marmalade the bitterer it is too in most cases. I would hypothesise that you are far more likely to get a bitterer marmalade in a central Oxford location (or any location that would like to consider itself a bit 'psoh') than most places due to the very nature of these paces. Maybe we should test this theory, I would like to see if my casual observations can be scientifically proven.
On a sweeter note: The Tesco Value range has a rather splendid marmalade if you enjoy the sweet end of the scale. I buy this on a regular basis as it reminds me of the marmalade my Grandma used to make when I was young.
There are some jams and marmalades at Maisson Blanc that I've considered buying. There are also some interesting looking ones at the Co-Op. I haven't bought these, however, as I don't want to take them to Green's with me and I would just end up microwaving the bread at home instead of toasting it properly.
Oh I do love Maisson Blanc. When I lived in London that would be my Sunday afternoon treat and I would go over to Hampstead and buy a cake from there, sit outside and eat it and then go for a walk on the Heath. I imagine anything they sell would be delightful, although, having never purchased any of their preserves I can't say for sure.
I'm not sure about the Co-Op offerings you will have to keep us posted if you do try any of them on what you think. I am always keen to get a good recommendation for a preserve. The same goes for a good cider.
Microwaving bread is never a good idea, it really ruins it. However, don't underestimate the opportunities that a marmalade sandwich offers. Paddington Bear was a great ambassador for the marmalade sandwich and I have to say I agree whole heartedly with the idea. They are a delicious alternative when you don't have toasting facilities.
I've never actually purchased their preserves. I have merely noted that they have them (and have considered purchasing them). I'll let you know if I try the ones at Co-Op. They last a while but are supposed to be consumed within 6 weeks of opening, so I figured I might not want to buy it when I am just over 2 weeks away from leaving for a month.
I think I like having the bread toasted first. I wish Green's had more a choice of flavor rather than just whichever one they happen to have at the moment. I would feel a bit guilty bringing my own jam with me. :)
Ah, I think I miscommunicated myself regarding the Maisson Blanc preserves. I was just suggesting that I also thought they might be nice, although I haven't tired them, based on how wonderful their cakes are. I would be keen to know what you think if you do try any.
That is a good idea about waiting until you are back from your travels. They do indeed last for a good while, after all, that was the purpose of making fruits into jams and marmalades to extend their life in the days before refrigeration, but I suspect that they are at their best when first opened or close to it. It also gives you something nice to look forward to when you get back. You could even go so far as to buy a nice specimen just before you go and keep it unopened in the cupboard for when you get back.
It is a shame about the lack of choice in Green's. Maybe you could ask them to get something different in for you next time? Or if they don't seem to keen on that idea, ask if you can have your own special pot of something more to your taste kept there that you can have when you go in. That way you get the best of both worlds :)
I was thinking of having it wait for me when I get back, but then I might be impatient while I am still here, and both Maisson Blanc and Co-Op are right next to me.
Green's makes up for it by having the best coffee in town. :)
The strawberry jam was good, but it would be nice to get more than one type and to have a choice. And I wasn't too keen on their orange marmalade. I might be able to try eating in at Maisson Blanc for that, though I automatically get a pastry there anyway, so I'm not sure if that will happen in practice.
e mentions apricot jam -- I don't think I've had that, but among my all time favorites (especially for buttered toast & jam) is apricot-pineapple jam. Being from Hawaii makes that slightly more accessible to me I suppose, but I'm sure someone ships it.
I'm sure I've seen apricot-pineapple before. Actually, the ones at Co-Op did include a couple of mash-ups, if I recall.
Apricot-pineapple sounds incredibly sweet. I'm not a big fan of pineapple so I think for me it might ruin the apricot jam. I am however, intrigued by the notion of mash-up jams. I once had some lemon-lime marmalade and that was very nice and I used to help my Gran make raspberry and blackberry jam, which I also very much enjoyed both making and eating. I might have to see what other interesting combinations I can find :)
I was at the Co-Op today, and I bought some apricot jam. I won't be opening it until after I return in late September from my upcoming long trip (because it's only good for 6 weeks after opening), so ask me about it then. Co-Op did indeed have a lemon-lime mash-up in stock.
Oh I do hope you like it. I would hate to think I have recommend something, that you then looked forward to for 6 weeks, only to discover you didn't like it!
I will hav to try my Co-Op and see if they have the lemon-lime one. Though my local Co-Op isn't very big and they don't have a very good selection, so I may have to try one with better stock ranges. Thanks for the tip!
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