Jam making originated from the West, the knowledge of producing chutneys came from the East, India to be precise, and interestingly the recipe for the ‘traditional’ British condiment, Piccalilli, can be traced back to 1747 when it was known as Indian Pickle or Indian Piccalillo.
Over the last decade pickling and preserving has enjoyed a significant resurgence, as we have become more aware of how our food is produced and the effect it has on our environment (think carbon footprint)! Allotments and garden patches have popped up all over the country and as we have turned into a nation who enjoys producing our own fruit and vegetables with excess food being preserved, pickled and stored all year around, what was once a necessity has become an enjoyable and rewarding pastime.
The Kilner brand has recently featured in two hit BBC TV shows the Great “British Bake Off”, and “Who do you think you are?” where Top Gear Presenter Jeremy Clarkson discovered that the founding member of the Kilner Glass Works, John Kilner is his great, great, great grandfather. To this day the Kilner name is synonymous with preserves and remains a brand with designs which have stood the test of time for over 150 years.
Whether you’re planning on stocking up on Jam and Preserves to use through the winter months, or you’re just feeling creative and are planning on giving them as gifts for family or friends, as a harvest basket or even as Christmas Presents, jams and preserves are cheap and simple to make, and many fruits such as apples, raspberries, blackberries etc are freely available in the wild, or you never know you may even have an apple tree at the bottom of the garden just waiting to be used!
Kilner Jams and Preserves range available at 24ace.co.uk, from only £3.99, and if you need some ideas on what preserves and pickles to create, dont forget the all important Preserves and Pickles Book.