Zesty and refreshing, marmalade is the perfect preserve for those who like a topping on their toast but have slightly less of a sweet tooth. A good marmalade is a great thing, similar to a classic jam but with an edge!
Whether Seville orange, apricot, grapefruit or lime and maybe even with a sophisticated dash of whisky, there are so many moreish marmalades available from British, Scottish and even Italian brands. Creating this buying guide and top ten list, we have sought out the most delectable options from Bonne Maman, Waitrose, Tiptree and more.
Quick List - Top Marmalades
Rosebud Preserves
The Perfect Preserve, Made in England With Seville Oranges
Bonne Maman
Fine-Shred Marmalade From the French Preserve Experts
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Table of Contents
In this section, we'll look at the various things to ponder when buying a pot of marmalade. We'll go into the different types and flavours, as well as how to decide which option will suit your diet and preferences the best.
It's likely you will have tasted orange marmalade before, but have you ever tried lemon, lime or apricot marmalade?
Orange is the classic fruit as it creates the perfect balance of bitter and sweet – wonderful on toast or to be used in baking – whereas apricot is wonderfully summery and sweet, which can be more appealing to jam lovers.
Lemon and lime (or just lime) marmalade brings the zest and zing and can be less sweet than orange, providing it doesn't contain additives. It can also be used as a fabulous ingredient in cocktails such as the mojito or the North Sea breeze.
Fine cut, medium cut, thick cut (or even coarse cut) is referring to how the fruit's peel is sliced before it is used to create marmalade. Fine cut peel is chopped using a sharp knife or shredded in a zester for super-fine slithers, whereas medium and thick-cut marmalade is made by slicing the fruit peel into sizeable chunks.
Fine cut marmalade has a soft flavour and texture and a smooth finish. Medium and thick cut peel creates a tangy and bitter aftertaste, with the larger chunks in thick cut marmalade creating an exciting texture and bite.
Made from fruit, marmalade is seen as a healthy choice for breakfast or as a baking ingredient, but that's not always the case. Marmalade can contain a lot of sugar, with sugar often being its first ingredient!
As it's hard to avoid, choose a jar with a lower sugar content per 100 g if possible, or one made with unrefined cane sugar. The average shop-bought jar usually contains around 65 g, but you could aim for around the 50 g mark if you're sugar-conscious.
It's equally as important to look for a marmalade made with few ingredients, as it is technically possible to make it with just fruit and sugar. Avoid options with additives, colours or syrups as they are akin to eating sweets for breakfast, and consider looking for marmalade made with organic fruit.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Rosebud Preserves Medium Cut Seville Orange Marmalade |227 g | ![]() | The Perfect Preserve, Made in England With Seville Oranges | |
2 | Waitrose Duchy Seville Orange Marmalade Thin Cut|340 g | ![]() | A Gorgeous Organic Marmalade | |
3 | Tiptree Fine Cut Lime Marmalade By Wilkin & Sons|340 g | ![]() | Tangy and Refreshing | |
4 | Bonne Maman Bitter Orange Fine Shred Marmalade|370 g | ![]() | Fine-Shred Marmalade From the French Preserve Experts | |
5 | Tesco Finest Three Fruit Marmalade|340 g | ![]() | A Zesty Blend of Lemon, Grapefruit and Spanish Oranges | |
6 | Mackays Vintage Orange Marmalade|340 g | ![]() | The Best Old-Fashioned Scottish Recipe from Dundee | |
7 | Rose's Lemon & Lime Marmalade|454 g | ![]() | A Sweet, Nostalgic Classic |
In at number one is this exquisite medium-cut Seville orange marmalade from Rosebud Preserves. Made in Lower Wensleydale, North Yorkshire, everything about the process of making this preserve is perfection!
Made using a few well-chosen, high-quality ingredients, this marmalade is free from anything artificial and is made with 33% fruit. It has a gorgeous, homemade taste without any unnecessary ingredients, and the combination of fresh lemon juice and coriander seed give it an aromatic edge. Excellent value!
This fine cut organic Seville orange marmalade is simply divine, but what else would we expect from the Waitrose Duchy range? Fruity with the perfect level of sweetness and the right balance of peel, you'll want to enjoy this every day on buttery toast!
With an authentic taste and only the essential ingredients at a very reasonable price, this offering should be a firm fixture on the weekly shopping list! We, of course, love that it's made with organic Seville oranges, too.
Tiptree have been growing fruit and making preserves since 1885 in Essex, England. Recognised by the Queen herself, the jams and marmalades created by this trusted British company are very well-known, and very well-loved.
It can be more difficult to find good lime marmalade, especially one with just a few, high-quality ingredients and without colouring or additives, but look no further. This recipe is zesty, sweet and simply top-notch!
Creating preserves made from traditional French recipes, you can't go wrong with Bonne Maman. Made with finely-sliced peel and not too much sugar, this delicate bitter orange marmalade is simply delightful.
Tasting just like it was homemade in a French kitchen but widely available online, it's truly the best of both worlds. Another bonus is once you've enjoyed the marmalade, you can use the chic pot for jam, yoghurt or leftovers.
The Tesco Finest range is often a good choice and this coarse-cut, bittersweet three fruit marmalade really comes through! Grapefruit can be a hard ingredient to find in marmalade and it really does taste best combined with Spanish oranges and lemons.
Containing a reasonable amount of fruit and some, but not too many, additives in the ingredient list, it can be a good choice for breakfast or as a sweet treat. You can really taste the addition of orange oil and lemon oil giving it a luxurious aroma.
This list wouldn't be complete without including an offering from Dundee, which is known as the home of marmalade. Many European countries were eating a marmalade-like preserve but it was in Dundee that the first jar of marmalade was brought to the breakfast table in 1797.
Mackays is now the last remaining marmalade producer in Dundee, and sticking to their time-honoured traditional methods their recipe is very fruity with an old-fashioned, homemade taste. However, once again, it contains quite a few ingredients – the main one being sugar and also treacle, so it may not be the best daily breakfast option!
If you grew up in the UK, it's likely that Rose's preserves conjure memories of childhood breakfasts or snacks of jam sandwiches in the garden. A favourite with grandparents and some jars still using its quaint original designs, this marmalade serves up a delectable dose of nostalgia!
With most of the popular marmalade being made of oranges, lemon and lime is a refreshing change. However, this one may be best reserved for the occasional trip down memory lane. Its first ingredient is glucose-fructose syrup and it contains a lot more ingredients than is necessary to make a good marmalade.
Fancy trying your hand at marmalade making? As long as you have the necessary equipment and ingredients – and a good recipe like this one from Delia Smith, of course – it's not nearly as difficult as you may think!
There are certain kitchen staples we all need, whether for children's breakfasts, a fully-stocked pantry for guests, or even a sudden craving. If you want to have the right condiments ready regardless of the cuisine, check out our related articles below!
Now we have shown you the most mouth-watering marmalades available online in the UK, we are hoping you're feeling inspired to try something new. With some of these offerings in your kitchen cupboard, you won't be able to wait for breakfast time!
Author: Melanie McPhail
No. 1: Rosebud Preserves|Medium Cut Seville Orange Marmalade |227 g
No. 2: Waitrose Duchy|Seville Orange Marmalade Thin Cut|340 g
No. 3: Tiptree|Fine Cut Lime Marmalade By Wilkin & Sons|340 g
No. 4: Bonne Maman|Bitter Orange Fine Shred Marmalade|370 g
No. 5: Tesco Finest|Three Fruit Marmalade|340 g
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