A Passionfruit and Seville Orange marmalade from Somerset has been crowned the 2026 Best Marmalade in the World at the International Marmalade Awards at Dalemain.

A Somerset man claimed the top prize with his entry into the Dalemain World Marmalade Awards in Cumbria.

Buyers from Fortnum & Mason chose David Hinkins’ jar, a Passionfruit & Seville Marmalade out of more than 3400 entries.

David Hinkins, 2026 Homemade Winner said: “I can’t believe it.

“It’s been fun for the last 11 years, getting that little bit better every year and helping such a worthy cause along the way.’’

Beating entries from all over the planet with additions including Taiwanese sea water, Douglas Fir Needles, Coffee, Korean Pepper, Tankan, Umeshu, Mint, foraged damsons, sloes, Snow Fungus and Lychee Honey

The Awards have been running for 21 years, and Hinkins jar stole the show, beating national and international competition from the UK, Finland, Hong Kong, Swaziland, Thailand, South Africa, Japan, Canada, Austria and beyond.

Beatrice Hasell-McCosh, Director of The World Marmalade Awards said “It is a brilliant win for David Hinkins, who has been entering the competition for years.

“This year marks our 21st anniversary and so a passionfruit marmalade seems hugely appropriate for those who feel passionate about this much loved preserve.”

The jar is on sale at Fortnum & Mason and at Dalemain with a percentage of each jar going to Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland.

100 percent of the Homemade entry fee goes to Hospice and this is possible with the support of our sponsors Fortnum & Mason, Westmorland Farm Shop, Adfin and Lycetts.

To date the competition has raised more than £380,000 for Hospice since 2005.

Of the 15 Homemade category winners chosen by Fortnum and Mason in a completely blind tasting three of the winners are from Japan.

A prison charity, Not Beyond Redemption won the Prisons category.

The charity offers free legal advice to women in prison or recently released.

The Adfin Tea Marmalade Category was won by Jo Aldhouse, a previous Double Gold Winner with her Seville Orange, Blood Orange and lapsang souchong Marmalade.

It saw entries from around the world with successful additions including; mint, matcha, Oolong and Earl Grey.

Sudachi has had a great year with both the Lycetts Signature Savoury Marmalade category was won by Fumika Mashi from Japan with a Sudachi Marmalade and The Westmorland Farm Shop Local Flavours Marmalade category; won by Mari Kawamura from Japan with Sudachi and Pear Marmalade.

The category highlights included local home-grown ingredients such as; damsons in Sussex, Wiltshire honey, sloes from the Ridgeway, Westmorland Douglas Fir needles, Muhlen Kolsch beer from Cologne and Honey Bell in an entry by an orphanage in Taiwan.

Other notable savoury ingredients included; pink pepper, fennel, horseradish, pickled ginger, rosemary, Snow Fungus and shiso miso paste marmalades.

This twenty first year saw a record number of visitors to the festival in the Lake District (over 2000) as well as the Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria Alex Scott, Mr Masaki Ikegami, Minister Plenipotentiary and Deputy Chief of Mission for Japan in the UK, The Spanish Ambassador to the UK Emma Aparici, The Japanese Acting Consul General in Edinburgh, Mr Katsutoshi Takeda and Mayor Oshiro and a group representing the Japanese festival in Yawatahama as well as the Chairman of the Japan Association in the UK, Ms Chizuko Winter.

Mr Ikegami and Mayor Oshiro joined Patron Charlie Dunn and Australian Patron Jane Harley to judge the marmalades live alongside Head Judge Jane Maggs, who is half Australian.

The English team narrowly carried away the trophy by 3 runs after a number of years of Australian predominance.

Elizabeth Leeming, President of Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland received the Fortnum & Mason cheque from Lily Mcblain of Fortnum & Mason and Hitomi Wakamura, our 2025 Best in Show Winner.

Debbie Mkenna, CEO of Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland said: “We were delighted to be part again in this year’s Dalemain Marmalade Festival and would like to thank the organisers, volunteers and everyone who attended for their incredible and continued support.

“The event once again showcased the warmth, creativity and community spirit that Cumbria is known for.

“It was a pleasure to meet so many visitors and share more about the work Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland provides to patients and families across our region.

“Events like this make a real difference, helping us continue to deliver compassionate hospice care in the comfort of people’s own homes within our local community.”

Dr Chris Bishop, past Master of The Worshipful Company of Fruiterers presented the Fruiterers Cup to David Hinkins from Somerset.

The Silver Gilt Cup is engraved with the words from the nursery rhyme ‘Oranges and Lemons’.

Jane Hasell-Mccosh, Karen Jankel (daughter of Paddington author Michael Bond), Mayor Oshiro from Yawatahama, Spanish Ambassador Mrs Emma Aparici and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Japanese Embassy, Mr Masaki Ikegami and General Consul of Japan in Edinburgh Mr Takeda travelled from Dalemain to Penrith to judge the orange window competition which were part of the Penrith Goes Orange celebration which has been happening in tandem with the festival over the weekend.

Businesses in Penrith turned orange for the weekend, offering deals and citrussy extra’s.

The Unicorn gift shop was judged the best window display on the day.

Jo Willets, Penrith Chamber of Trade said: “Penrith Goes Orange is an exhibition of how brilliant our local community is with more than 30 businesses in town who have gone orange for the weekend and decorating their windows and shops.

“It is just another opportunity to show off this part of the world to the many international and national visitors to The Marmalade Festival.

“The free bus all day between Dalemain and Penrith raised almost £500 for Hospice at Home.

“It’s great to continue to expand on last year, perhaps the whole of Cumbria will turn orange next year.”

“Each year, we choose an exceptional jar from many outstanding entries. David Hinkins’ entry was excellent, and Fortnum & Mason are delighted to have chosen this wonderful, clever marmalade, which will be sold in our stores for a year in aid of Hospice at Home, Carlisle and North Lakeland.”— Lily McBlain, Grocery Assistant Buyer, Fortnum & Mason

Artisan Jars from around the UK, Taiwan, Switzerland, Norway, Portugal, USA and Japan feature ingredients such as Red Lemon, Pink Grapefruit, Scottish whisky, Bergamot, kumquat, Yuzu and Umeshu.

Many of the 2026 Gold Winning Artisans from around the world attended the festival to sell their jars in person.

A full list of Artisan and Homemade award winners can be found on our website.

The Homemade winning jar will be on sale at Dalemain and Fortnum & Mason with a percentage of the sale from each jar going to Hospice at Home, Carlisle and North Lakeland.

A selection of the Double Gold and Gold Artisan marmalades will be on sale as well this year at Dalemain and on our website.