A TENBURY marmalade-maker has claimed the top prize with his two exceptional entries into the Dalemain World Marmalade Awards in Cumbria.
The buyers from Fortnum & Mason narrowed the competition from thousands down to two jars, a Seville orange and lime marmalade with red chilli and a lime and crème de cacao recipe which were both by Stephen Snead.
In an unprecedented move, Fortnum & Mason chose both as joint winners.
An accountant by profession, Mr Snead, who lives in Berrington, also runs a self-catering holiday cottage business.
The keen runner, who has twice won the preserves cup at the Tenbury Show, started making marmalade around six years ago.
"I had already been making jam from fruit from the garden and thought I would give marmalade a go," Mr Snead said.
Since then, I've been making it every year."
Mr Snead said making marmalades brings out his creativity, and there is always a jar for family and friends.
I’m doubly thrilled that my two marmalades have won double gold at this year’s awards,” he said.
"I’m delighted that the judges enjoyed them. I hope everyone else does too and that they raise lots of money for a wonderful charity.”
The awards have been running for 19 years and this is the first time lime has taken the top prize, beating international competition from Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Canada, Austria, India and beyond.
“Thousands of lime marmalades have been entered over the last 19 years but none of which have taken the top prize - Stephen's entries were absolutely outstanding,” said awards director Beatrice Hasell-McCosh.
“It was a delight to celebrate marmalade at the festival this year with visitors to Cumbria from around the world including artisan makers from Hawaii, Taiwan, Norway and Japan and beyond who came to collect their gold awards from Chris Holmes the new high sheriff of Cumbria this weekend.”
The two homemade winning jars will be on sale at Dalemain and Fortnum & Mason with a percentage of the sale from each jar going to charity.
And what is the secret to a world-beating marmalade? Well-balanced flavours, a perfect set (not runny, not stiff, but a good ‘wobble’), and tender peel, evenly distributed in the jar, said Mr Snead
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