Dalemain has been turned into a marmalade paradise as the World Marmalade Award entries arrived during a stormy opening month to 2024.

Entries for The World’s Original Marmalade Awards 2024 closed on February 5 as marmalade from around the world has made its way to the Dalemain in Cumbria.

Entries arrived from India to Inverness, Hawaii and Hampshire, Brazil and Bedfordshire, Argentina, Canada, Japan, and China with tastes including Onuga Caviar, Kumquat and Caper and Seaweed Marmalades.

‘The fun of the awards is seeing everyone’s precious jars arrive at Dalemain from around the world and reading the stories connected to each jar from each entrant.” Said Beatrice Hasell-McCosh, Director of the Awards

“Many with extraordinary and highly creative additions end up with Gold Awards. It’s brightened up an incredibly stormy January in the Lake District.

“We are grateful to our sponsors Rathbones, Westmorland Family, Lycetts and Fortnum and Mason who have enabled us to continue to run the awards and enabled 100 percent of the Homemade Competition entry fee to go to charity.”

Last year’s 2023 Homemade Winner, Tim Nind’s Seville Orange & Ginger Marmalade has sold well at Fortnum & Mason and at Dalemain, raising more than £6000 to be donated to Hospice at Home and his chosen charity Hessilhead Wildlife Trust in Scotland.

More than 600 people delivered their jars to Marmalade Collection Points around the UK from church halls to, stable yards, railway stations, bus garages and at one American marmalade enthusiast’s address in New York for any American entries, these arrived in his suitcase in time for close of entry in Cumbria.

Avanti collected jars up and down the West coast mainline which were brought by train to Penrith railway station by the Marmalade Express.

Stagecoach, have collected entries in their bus garage in Workington and delivered them by bus to Dalemain, Lycetts collected entries in Norfolk and Newcastle while Westmorland Family have collected entries at their farm shops along the Marmalade Motorway from Gloucester Services, at Tebay and in Scotland at Cairn Lodge Services.

At Fortnum and Mason and Rathbones people received a jar in return for their entry, so they wouldn’t be without marmalade on their table for too long.

2024 is the 19th year of the Awards which were started in 2005 and three new categories were opened.

The newest category is one for Prisons, encouraging anyone within the justice system to enter as a group under the banner of their Prison. Entries have arrived from prisons around the UK and a Women’s Prison in the USA.

The Rathbones Generations Together category has seen an ‘accidentally burnt but delicious’ entry, Rum & Raison Marmalade and Fragrant Olive, Kiyomi & Orange marmalade from Japan. Lycetts Signature Savoury Category has seen additions such as Yuzu, Sake and Chilli, onion, caviar and port.

The Westmorland Family Local Flavours category has been popular too with Australian bush honey (Australia) and Ontario Apple Cider (Canada) additions.

Entrants are trialling new and inventive ingredients with a Kumquat & Caper jar from South Africa and Seaweed Marmalade from Lundy Island. Unusual citrus has been judged including Kikabosu and Amanatsu.

Judged by an expert panel of marmalade makers and preserve lovers, the winner will be announced on April 20.

National Marmalade Week will run from the April 13-20 with businesses around Cumbria and the UK turning orange for the week.

Any business in the UK or abroad is invited to take part in National Marmalade Week.

Marmalade Award winners will be announced at the Marmalade Festival on Saturday, April 20, at Dalemain Mansion, Penrith.

Marmalade entries will be available to view, lectures and Q&A’s connected to marmalade and marmalade Artisan winners available to taste and take home with you from our shop.

The Mansion and gardens will be open for entry.

The Awards take place with support from our sponsors Rathbones, Westmorland Family, Fortnum & Mason and Lycetts.