The Proper Marmalade Company

For us, it has always come down to one simple, uncompromising principle: taste.

Every jar begins the same way—with fresh fruit, handled by hand, never hurried. The peel is cooked gently to softness as it simmers, releasing its oils and aroma, before being brought to a careful set with sugar. It is a slow, deliberate process, and to our mind, the only way to make proper marmalade. The result is clarity of flavour: bright, precise citrus and a taste and texture that will keep you wanting more.

Our dedication and consistent quality and flavour has quietly gathered recognition over the years. At the Dalemain World Marmalade Festival, our marmalades have earned their place among the best, collecting Double Golds, Golds, Silvers and Bronzes annually—an affirmation, of doing things the long way rather than the easy way.

Handmade in small batches, our marmalades have character, texture and taste—far removed from their factory-made counterparts. There is something deeply nostalgic in them, too: a flavour that calls to mind the kind of homemade marmalade once found cooling in kitchen cupboards. Only here, the work has already been done for you.

The range itself is divided along pleasingly distinct lines. “Proper Marmalade” is rooted in tradition—bold, bittersweet, and made for thick slices of hot toast, where it delivers that familiar morning jolt. “Improper Marmalade,” by contrast, takes a more playful turn. These jars wander beyond the breakfast table, finding their way alongside meats and cheeses, even into puddings—an invitation to think of marmalade not as a habit, but as an ingredient.

It has not gone unnoticed. Appearances on Kirstie Allsopp's Handmade Christmas and Handmade Britain introduced these jars to a wider audience, while a special commission for Paul Hollywood's Pies & Puds offered a moment of quiet culinary endorsement.

Beyond the screen, collaborations have brought together an eclectic mix of partners—from Firebox to Molton Brown, and even the considered kitchens of Michael Caines. There have been appearances, too, at the venerable Fortnum & Mason—a fitting home for something so steeped in British tradition.

Yet for all that, the essence remains unchanged: a jar, a spoon, and the simple, enduring pursuit of flavour done properly.