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Jam or Marmalade?

(39 Posts)
midgey Fri 27-Dec-19 14:19:07

My son brought some raspberry marmalade from Austria. He has asked what is the difference between jam and marmalade. I have no idea, any knowledgeable grans know?

Mypennyfarthing41 Fri 27-Dec-19 14:22:41

Generally, jam is made from soft fruit,marmalade is made from oranges, blood oranges are best, lm told, add some lemon to the mix, and you have a zesty marmalade,

MawB Fri 27-Dec-19 14:34:01

In Germany and presumably other German-speaking countries, Jim is called Marmalade(pronounced Mar-mah-lad-eh or Konfitüre as they don’t really “do” marmalade made from oranges.

MawB Fri 27-Dec-19 14:34:43

Jim ? who is he?
Jam !!!!

Fennel Fri 27-Dec-19 15:05:42

Maw ~ I buy the french version of marmalade in Tesco - Bonne Maman confiture des oranges ameres. Jam of bitter oranges. Very good.
I think the word marmalade comes from french, malade meaning illness. Not sure about the 'mar'.

shysal Fri 27-Dec-19 15:07:43

I like both, but can't understand why I only like marmalade on toast and would never have it in a sandwich. Jam goes on either for me

I cannot imagine what raspberry marmalade has that jam doesn't. It must be Austrian naming.

Elegran Fri 27-Dec-19 16:02:15

Fennel The story in Scotland about the origin of the name marmalade is that Mary Stewart (Mary Queen of Scots, who was brought up in France) was ill and pining for the orange preserve she had enjoyed before coming to the cold, damp, unwelcoming land. Her ladies, also from France, somehow acquired some Seville oranges and made it for her, "because Madame est malade"

You can believe it or not, as you wish (and as marmalade existed before Mary Q of S, it is probably just a myth)

midgey Fri 27-Dec-19 16:52:36

Shysalhave you never tried a bread and marmalade sandwich? ... Delish!

Cherrytree59 Fri 27-Dec-19 16:52:48

Another story.....
A storm damaged ship carrying Seville Oranges sought refuge in Dundee harbour.
The cargo was sold off cheap to a down on his luck James Keller.
His wife turned it into preserve.

Or some believe that the word Marmalade comes from the Portuguese for preserved quince or 'Marmelo', it is a fruit preserve made from sugar, water and the peel of citrus fruits.

Marmalade and other citrus preserve can be traced back to Greek and Roman times.

Becoming popular in Britain in the 17th century, when citrus fruit became plentiful and Marmalade was a good way of using and preserving the fruits.

According to Google..
The Marmalade Awards founded in 2006, now generates a world wide following.
In 2013 more than 1, 900 jars were sent in from countries far and wide including Japan Australia and the Philippines.
Awards coincide with National Marmalade week, 1st to 8th March. ?

JackyB Fri 27-Dec-19 18:02:57

I would say the same as Maw. German doesn't differentiate between jam and marmalade (which they spell Marmelade) so when they translated it to English they picked the wrong word.

H1954 Fri 27-Dec-19 18:07:19

Jam?..........Marmalade?........Who cares.......bring it on! ?

Nortsat46 Fri 27-Dec-19 18:10:22

Jam for me - especially Bonne Maman.

Though I remember as a child having toast and lime marmalade as a sort of comfort food, which my mother gave us, when we were ill and couldn’t eat much.
Haven’t seen lime marmalade for years

Sussexborn Fri 27-Dec-19 18:17:03

Seville oranges available in January are supposed to best for making marmalade. Quite sharp and you can decide what size the peel is.

grannysyb Fri 27-Dec-19 18:21:06

Seville oranges are definitely the best for making marmalade. I'm down to my last jar and hoping the Sevilles come in soon, I usually make about 40 pounds!

CanadianGran Fri 27-Dec-19 18:29:09

I think marmalade refers to any preserve with citrus, but I think they are basically the same.

When we were in Mexico, there was pineapple jam available and it was DELICIOUS! I looked for some at the local grocery store to bring home, but it was not quite as good. I have since seen recipes on line and am tempted to make some when pineapples are on sale.

Grannysyb, I can't imagine making that amount of marmalade. Good for you.

Namsnanny Fri 27-Dec-19 18:30:31

40ib grannysyb!! Why so much????

Thinking about it, using just under a pound a week (which is possible for two people or in our house one greedy husband!).
You have just enough to set you up for the year, so maybe you just love marmalade!

notanan2 Fri 27-Dec-19 18:32:45

Jam = fruits that you have to add citrus to, like when you add lemon juice to make strawberry jam.

Marmalade doesnt need anything else added because the fruit is already citrus.

E.g. lemon and lime makes marmalade not jam.

Raspberries, currents etc need citrus. Apricots are citrusey but need additional juice (usually lemon)

notanan2 Fri 27-Dec-19 18:33:07

So apricot is jam.

MawB Fri 27-Dec-19 18:41:32

Fennel some people thing the origin is something to do with Mary Queen of Scots’ and the phrase “Marie est malade” but actually it comes from the Portuguese word for quince

The word marmalade meant quince jam and comes into English via French and Portuguese, deriving from 'marmelo' meaning quince. Further back, the origin is Latin and Greek, from terms meaning honey-apple, which was the fruit resulting from the grafting of an apple onto a quince

MawB Fri 27-Dec-19 18:42:58

As somebody has already said upthread blush

Namsnanny Fri 27-Dec-19 18:46:31

Cherrytree … similar story but shipwreck on Devon/Cornish coast, oranges quickly spirited away and turned into preserve before the government men found it!

CosyCrafter Fri 27-Dec-19 18:46:32

Marmalade definitely but only on toast unless it is in a lovely marmalade cake.
Don't fancy a marmalade sandwich ...that's just for bears.

notanan2 Fri 27-Dec-19 18:47:30

So I was completely wrong then MawB? ?

In my defence, quince preserve gets called Jam these days AND it often has lemon juice in it!

Aw well I thought my theory sounded good..

notanan2 Fri 27-Dec-19 18:48:51

CanadianGran I never thought of making pineapple jam but it sounds amazing (off to google...)

farview Sat 28-Dec-19 17:51:17

I love marmalade butties..thick butter and good marmalade on wholemeal bread..gorgeous! Dont like jam apart from apricot jam.