Taiwanese winners of the Dalemain World Marmalade Awards pose at the awards ceremony in London on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Sonfruit International / Ning yuhsiang via CNA

/ Staff writer, with CNA, LONDON

Artisanal marmalade by four Taiwanese producers made a splash at the latest edition of a British marmalade award show on Saturday.

Products from Taiwan won a total of 20 gold, silver and bronze awards at the Artisan Competition of the Dalemain World Marmalade Awards, part of the World's Original Marmalade Awards & Festival.

In addition, an orange marmalade made using Kinmen kaoliang by Nantou County-based Lohas Edibles Rose Garden was crowned the “Double Gold Savoury Winner,” one of three double gold awards that are the most prestigious accolades at the annual event.

As it was the company's second consecutive double gold award, the event organizers invited its representatives to Penrith, England, to receive the award in person.

The win also means Lohas Edibles can select a representative to serve on next year's panel of jurors. The company won its first double gold for a rose-infused orange marmalade.

Lohas Edibles also picked up silver and bronze awards with its Kinmen kaoliang marmalade and other marmalades made with honey extracted from roses, the flowers of lychee fruit and Wenshen Paochong tea powder.

Other winning producers from Taiwan were Sonfruit International, Nongtian Cultural and Creative Studio, and Keya Jam.

One of the ingredients used by Keya Jam received a specific mention from chef Dan Lepard, chairman of this year's panel of jurors.

Lepard said Keya Jam used Citrus taiwanica, also known as Nansho Daidai sour orange.

He said Keya Jam's pure sour orange marmalade received 27 out of 30 points, because it had “a unique taste that was refreshing,” was very well-made and delicious.

Lepard also praised the company's sour orange marmalade infused with honey extracted from the flowers of longan fruit, saying that the jam was “breathtaking” and “filled with balanced yet layered flavors.”

Nansho Daidai sour oranges are an endangered strain of citrus that have been a focus of the Forestry Bureau's restoration program since 2021.

Keya, the founder and owner of the company, liked the potential of sour oranges to yuzu, which is a staple in Japan, adding that if promoted correctly it could become Taiwan's national citrus fruit.

The awards ceremony was held on Saturday, with a festival that celebrated the annual event scheduled for April 22.

The main sponsor of the event is Fortnum & Mason, a department store founded in 1707. Brands that receive accolades at the awards are to have their products featured at Fortnum & Mason stores.

News source: TAIPEI TIMES