Jam is much more than a simple fruit preserve: it contains a fascinating and ancient history, full of myths, innovations and traditions. Its origins date back to the Greco-Roman era, when the Greeks began to preserve quinces by boiling them with honey, a technique to preserve fruit even in the coldest months.
In the Middle Ages , thanks to the Crusades, sugar was introduced into Europe and became the main ingredient for making long-lasting jams. The first written records of jams, as we know them today, are found in Italian and French recipe books, and already in the Renaissance they were considered a refined and precious food.

The tradition is surrounded by suggestive legends: one of the most famous concerns Catherine of Aragon , who brought orange marmalade to the English court to alleviate her homesickness for Spain. Maria de' Medici is also the protagonist of another legendary story, which tells of citrus fruits sent to cure her vitamin deficiency, with the label "for sick Maria", from which the term "marmellata" derives. Beyond the curiosities, marmalade has become over time a symbol of European gastronomic culture, spreading throughout the continent and reaching our tables as a widely consumed food.

The difference between jam and marmalade

When talking about jam, it is easy to get confused with the term “marmalade”, but there is a clear regulatory difference between the two products. In Europe, only citrus-based products (such as oranges, lemons, mandarins) can be called jam. Jams, on the other hand, refer to products based on any other type of fruit and, by law, must contain a minimum percentage of fruit of 35%, while marmalades must have at least 20% citrus. This distinction, officially introduced by the European Union in 1979, is the result of a linguistic convention strongly influenced by English preferences, where "marmalade" refers exclusively to citrus jam. This linguistic precision reflects the cultural diversity of Europe and the role of jam and marmalade in traditional food and gastronomy.

Jam for your balanced and healthy breakfast
Jam, rich in natural sugars and vitamins, is an excellent choice for an energetic and balanced breakfast. Spread on wholemeal bread or on toast, it is a source of simple and complex carbohydrates that help provide the body with immediately available energy, particularly useful for those who need a nutritious but light start to the day. Jams made with oranges from special oranges have exceptional organoleptic qualities, excellent in taste and able to provide you with a daily multivitamin intake that can support you throughout the day. Through our Sicilian oranges that we ship all over the world, you can savor the rich and unique flavor of Sicily with every bite. What are you waiting for? Buy your order in our shop.