It’s that time of year when the house is permeated by the bitter, bright, clean and honeysweet smell of marmalade-in-the-making, as a pan of carefully cut up peels, juice and sugar bubble away enticingly in the kitchen to make this year’s supply of Seville Orange Marmalade. Is anything more guaranteed to wake you up and start your day with a zing than a couple of slices of toast and home-made marmalade?
I first wrote about it here, on this day in 2011. I wrote about it often. But our most memorable marmalade year was two years ago, when I wrote about it again, on almost this day.
Up above your head, in many a Spanish street, are oranges, glowing orbs of colour that brighten the cityscape. And two years ago we were in Valencia, home of the orange. Finding windfalls abandoned in the Turia Gardens, we gathered them and brought them home. What could be better than marmalade made, by you, from oranges you’ve harvested yourselves?


It turns out that my first marmalade post was written on 21st January. Today is the 22nd. I hope this isn’t a hanging offence, in the world of Flashback Friday.
Oh, how wonderful to make your own marmalade with oranges you collected yourself! must be 10 years since I made marmalade
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I can understand why. But there’s nothing better, is there?
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No, the scent of marmalade in the making is marvellous!
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🙂
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I love the smell . . but as with coffee the taste just isn’t me!!
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Oh, and I’ll be a pain….surely you want your Seville oranges from Seville!!!
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We weren’t in Seville at the right time of year. But they WERE Seville oranges I used. I got some from Cádiz last year, Seville’s near neighbour. Will that do?
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I reckon so!
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I made the bi-annual marmalade this week, with a zing of ginger. There is a kilo in the freezer ready for the summer batch. I can’t go that long without my marmalade fix.
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Well done you. In our case, I’m not even sure whether to make more. We rarely have toast these days, so we still have plenty left from last year. But that smell! Gotta have my annual fix.
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Great pictures and a wonderful memory of gathering the oranges in Seville itself.
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Oh it was fun. We’re inveterate scavengers!
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Once, when I was in Barcelona, I saw workmen sweeping up all the fallen oranges in the street.
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I’m sure it won’t come as any surprise to you to know that I have never made marmalade? I don’t actually like the smell of oranges. Orange blossom for me, every time! I tend to have fig jam or honey on my toast, but I do like a good marmalade. Save me a jar? 🙂 🙂 Actually, haven’t got to breakfast yet. Second cup of coffee and muesli, blueberries and yogurt sit beside me. Have a good day!
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You can certainly have a jar of marmalade. And I don’t ‘get’ fig jam at all. Too sweet by far! Enjoy your breakfast!
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I’m a big marmalade fan too. The one I’m enjoying at the moment was a birthday present – negroni marmalade! It really sets me up for a good day 😊🙃😊
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Oooh, that sounds quite a treat.
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You can never have enough marmalade, Margaret, nor write about it enough. 🙂
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A woman after my own heart.
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oh crikey am I the only person who doesn’t like it!!
Love your photos though 🙂
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Fancy Becky not liking marmalade, especially (thinking in my sweetheart’s accent) one that marma made. Perhaps she has only had the thin cut stuff with hardly any peel in it.
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I’ve tried all sorts – lots of home made ones, cheap bought ones and expensive bought ones. Tried thick peel, thin peel, no peel. Even tried making a marmalade steam pudding – but nope just don’t like the taste!
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More for us then, but at least you’ve done your best. I would only willingly let wasabi peas pass my lips once.
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ah now those I will eat, although not often!!
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Who knows? I do get it, but it’s a shame. She’s missing out….We shouldn’t talk about her behind her back though.
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I have to make some for hubby this weekend. Because he’s been home much more over the past year, he ran out in September!
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It’s a funny thing Sheree, but I didn’t eat marmalade in France. It didn’t seem right somehow. But I made it for our French friends alright. They seemed to love it.
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I’m not allowed to give friends jars of his marmalade
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But.. but… you made it. Tell him he can have a jar … if you can spare it 😉
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More than my life’s worth!
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🙂
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Looks (and smells) good to me!
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I hope so!
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I love the sunny orange colours in your photos, not to mention the hint of Spanish sunshine!
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I think that’s why I like marmalade. It’s sunshine in a jar.
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Salivating!
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Good
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A lovely vibrant post! And I love marmalade, but we are avoiding bread again and sweet things and you really have to have marmalade on hot buttered toast. I haven’t made it, but I used to buy the homemade stuff (Seville of course) from a lady on a stall at Ludlow market. She made other lovely marmalades too and chutneys. I miss her.
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We’re not getting through a lot, for the same reasons as you. But it’s a treat when we have it. There must be another nice ‘marmalade lady’ somewhere for you?
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Such a zesty and uplifting blog for these two challenges. 😀
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Are you a marmalade fan?
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Yes, I am.
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🙂
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Looks lovely and I bet it tastes delicious. You can’t beat homemade for marmalade. It would be nice if I could get Seville oranges, but they don’t seem to be listed for my Click & Collect order here.
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Oh grr. I bet the shop actually does have them too. Could anyone get them for you?
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They probably do and nobody understands or can be bothered to add temporary, short-season produce to the system. Still, it’s a minor gripe compared with all the horror of this detestable pandemic.
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I know it’s minor, but it’s also annoying.
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No mention for Paddington Bear?
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Hmmm. Forgot about him. Sorry.
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Ohhhh now that’s what I want!!!
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Come and join me? No … wait … lockdown 😦
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Oh noooo
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Double yum and isn’t the streets in some places in Spain wonderful when the oranges are in season. Loved the splash of colour. Marmalade is always in our pantry, homemade is even more preferable.
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Oh yes! And whether you like marmalade or not, those streets lined with orange always bring good cheer.
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I love making marmelade but haven’t done it this year..
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Nor me. Note to self. Buy Seville oranges.
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This is a wonderful orange colour and the marmalade looks yummy as well. I don’t normally eat marmalade but a jar like that could certainly tempt me! 🙂
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Give it a go one day. You might be surprised.
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