LOT 0018 : Just you wait
Locally grown apples with ginger, spices, vodka and chilli pepper.
9 jars made on 08.11.20

Throughout the lockdown, I sat at my desk each day and looked out on an old apple tree in the abandoned house next door. The story of this jam begins with this tree, which continues to give fruit long after its owners moved on. But there is definitely a twist in this tale, because despite the sweetness of the fruit, you'll want to get ready for that punch at the end of every bite. A life fully lived, after all, is only sweet because of the occasional punch.

LOT 0019 : Romanian Star
Cranberries with star anise, Christmas spice and Romanian pálinca.
9 jars made on 21.12.20

Christmas around the world is associated with taste and smell. Memories of fabulous feasts and traditional food, lovingly placed on the table by our fathers, mothers, and grandparents. This last jam of 2020 is an ode to our family in the US, UK and Romania. We will not be around the same table this year, but we will open a pot on Christmas Eve and feel that you are somehow with us. The star of the show, as always, is the pálinca.

LOT 0006 : Silence is golden
Spiced apple and beer.
6 jars made on 11.10.20

There is a time to talk and a time to stay silent. This is a jam that deserves to be eaten in silence, but you will certainly want to talk about it afterwards. With apples from the garden of a friend of mine, along with a smattering of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, the jam is cooked in the infamous Trappist Westvleteren "8" from the brewery of the Sint-Sixtus Abbey. How we got hold of this incredibly rare beer, well that's an altogether different story.

LOT 0007 : Sacred trees
Pears and figs with cinnamon and cointreau.
9 jars made on 17.10.20

The tree that shaped human history, according to the epic poem The Mahavamsa, is the fig tree. Similarly, the pear has featured in popular culture and art since antiquity, even if never quite reaching the heights of its cousin, the apple. Both the fig and pear trees were used in early Christian iconography as a metaphor for the sacred. Coupled with cinnamon and orange, this is not a jam for the feint-hearted. But it may be just the sweetness that are looking for next to a plate of good cheese.

LOT 0008 : Desert Rose
Coming soon

This lot is currently reserved.

LOT 0009 : Transition
Spiced pumpkin with grenadine, ginger and vodka.
6 jars made on 17.10.20

The pumpkin is arguably the first sign of Autumn and a sure sign that cooler temperatures and darker evenings are on their way. These hardy fruits live in the 'in-between' and have become the symbol of transition and movement towards darker times. And yet in fairy stories from around the world they also became symbols of prosperity, growth and abundance. As you enjoy this jam, with all its taste-filled surprises, may it be a moment of light as the nights draw in.

LOT 0010 : Unlocked
Spiced quince with honey and vodka. Limited edition.
3 jars made on 20.10.20

Heat is what unlocks the secrets of the quince. Without it, it is inedible. But even when it's taste, texture and colour has been revealed, it refuses to stand alongside the familiar cast of characters that we call jam. It remains distinctive with a solid texture and is often eaten as a dessert on its own. If you happen to get hold of one these limited edition pots, treat it with care and remember that sometimes it is good to stand apart from the rest.

LOT 0011 : Anticipation
Strawberries with ratafia de Champagne, almond and basil.
8 jars made on 21.10.20

This is a close descendent of Time to Celebrate (Lot 1), as Belgian strawberry fields start to wind down for the winter. Now with almonds sprinkled through this scarlet nectar, the texture takes us away from those long summer days. Likewise, the basil, with its fabled tendency to bring appetite, makes us long once again for the sunshine to return.

LOT 00012 : Oxford Love
Strawberries with Rosé Champagne, almond and mint. Gold Edition.
9 jars made on 12.10.20

This jam was made for the occasion of my son's wedding. Appropriately, it is the first Gold Edition and made with the best ingredients, a lot of patience, and packed with love.

LOT 00013 : Stronger together
Spiced apple, pear and beer.
10 jars made on 22.10.20

The Trappist Brothers who make beer at the brewery of the Sint-Sixtus Abbey hold the secrets to arguably the best beer in the world. This jam, a close relative to Silence is Golden (Lot 6), is literally stronger as it is made with the legendary Trappist Westvleteren "12". It now also benefits from a single dutch pear, which adds courage. Enjoy this jam and take a moment to remember that we are all stronger, when we stand together.

LOT 0014 : This is not a jam
Madarin with cava and mint.
14 jars made on 25.10.20

Strictly speaking, this may not be A Bit of a Jam. Sometimes, though, the best taste pleasures come disguised. With Spanish mandarins coupled with Cava from Barcelona and a healthy helping of fresh mint, this latest edition to the collection is for those who want to enjoy the complex bitter-sweet experience of citrus fruits. The harsh echoes of the rind are still very much evident once the sweetness has evaporated and yet you might still find yourself wanting just one more spoon.

LOT 0015 : Harmony
Pear and rosemary with star anise, chocolate, tequila and smoke.
6 jars made on 27.10.20

Somewhere far away across the sea, there is a place called Mezcala. This legendary land, ruled by nature, is where a group of extraordinary individuals are shaping a better future, literally one agave at a time. Their La Dama tequila is both the foundation and inspiration of this truly unique jam experience. Simply opening the lid will carry you away to a place of balance and harmony with nature.

LOT 0016 : Icelandic tales
Strawberries with Rosé Champagne, almond, ginger and mint. Commissioned.
10 jars made on 28.10.20

There is an Icelandic phrase, Rúsínan í pylsuendanum - the raisin at the end of the sausage. It is used to refer to something that happens in addition to something that's already awesome. This jam, a close relative of several lots above, was created especially for our truly awesome friends with whom we enjoy drinking champagne and telling stories late into the night.

LOT 0017 : Revolution in a jar
Pear and rosemary with star anise, chocolate, tequila and smoke. Limited edition.
4 jars made on 28.10.20

The team at La Dama are starting a revolution that is also a return to a fairer and more sustainable way of living. They are teaching us that ecological products can also be luxurious. This truly luxurious, limited edition, jam is a close relative to Harmony (Lot 15) and a reminder that each once of us can make a difference in the choices we make each day.

LOT 0001 : Time to celebrate
Strawberries with ratafia de Champagne and mint
14 jars made on 20.09.20

Like me, maybe you need to find some time to stop and celebrate. From the strawberry fields of Wépion in Belgium and the Champagne-producing hills of Festigny in France, this jam provides us both with a moment to enjoy life’s sweet pleasures. This Lot is also a celebration of the beginning of this project and the first jar was shared with friends over dinner with friends on my 50th birthday.

LOT 0002 : Reach for the stars
Forced rhubarb with locally made gin and ginger
10 jars made on 21.09.20

In times of hardship, you and I both grow stronger. The farmer who grew this rhubarb knew that placing it into a darkened space would make it more beautiful in both colour and sweetness. Fired by the energy of the ginger and the aromatic fragrances of the gin, this jam reminds us that the path to success and fulfilment is not always easy, but we should still push forward and reach for the stars.

LOT 0003 : Ode of remembrance
Reine Claude (Golden Gage) plum with cointreau and rosemary
11 jars made on 28.09.20

Rosemary has long been associated with happiness and health. Shakespeare's Ophelia petitions Hamlet with, "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance, pray you love, remember." May the honey-like sweetness of this jam and its strong, herbal overtones dispel all negativity and cause you to remember what really matters today.

LOT 0004 : Summer warmth
Forced rhubarb with locally made gin and ginger. Limited edition.
5 jars made on 28.09.20

As you move into autumn, ginger is a perfect way to remember the warmth of long summer days. A close cousin of Reach for the stars (Lot 2), this pot is infused with fire that blends perfectly with the aromatic fragrances of the gin. This jam is extremely limited and will be gone before you know it. Sometimes, though, the short stories are the most powerful.

LOT 0005 : Friendship
A Reine Claude plum, an Italian pear, 5 leaves of mint with cointreau. Limited edition.
2 jars made on 29.09.20

When friendships form, they are often borne out of seemingly random moments in time. How often we think to ourselves that it was just about being at the right place at the right time. These two pots of jam are all about just that. The sweetness is nothing more and nothing less than the resources that happened to be around at a single moment in time.