Wilkin & Sons Tiptree Orange & Tangerine Marmalade (~£3 in UK , ~$9 in US) is, as you can expect, bittersweet – and so is my experience with it. I bought this little jar, a year ago, when I was staying with my mother after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. We grew up drinking afternoon tea, and I retook this habit with my mom. I needed something to put in my bread, so I bought this marmalade. A couple of months later, after she died, i brought it home where it has mostly stayed untouched – as I had other open jars here.
I opened it yesterday and found that the top was completely crystallized. I’ve stored it high in the refrigerator door, so that might be the issue. I just mixed it back.
This marmalade is absolutely delicious. It has a strong Seville orange flavor, with bright bitter and sweet notes. It’s sweeter than other orange marmalades, and maybe it’s the right jam for me to eat now, when I can finally let the sweetness of my memories with my mother overcome the bitterness of loss.
I am once again amazed at how the Brits are able to create such an amazing jam for such low price (in England). It’s not like other foodstuff in England is particularly cheap, so it’s not just a matter of exchange rates.
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