Pump Up The Jam for National Jam Week!

It’s time for ‘Jam’ to take the centre stage... who’s ever heard of a “conserve sandwich” or “conserve & scones?”

Clippy’s Apple preserves , the unique British apple based brand taking the preserving world by storm are sponsors of the UK’s first ever ‘National Jam Week’, starting 21^st June 2009.

"Jam reminds us of our childhoods, playing out in the sunshine with jam butties and mucky elbows. Jam went into the first cakes we made with our parents."

The precise origin of jam remains a matter of historical debate; however, jams have a rich history and are appreciated worldwide for their fragrance and fruity taste. Jam-making probably began in the Middle-East where cane sugar grew naturally. The first known book of recipes, "Of Culinary Matters", written by the Roman gastronome Marcus Gavius Apicius in the first century, includes recipes for jams.  In Britain, jam originated in Tudor times, when there were a wide range of jams available, including quince and medlar.

Clippy feels that commercial jam has suffered the traditional British dumbing-down process and that the proliferation of cheap, sugary product has devalued jam. National Jam Week is an opportunity to reverse this situation.

Clippy (aka Michelle McKenna), founder of National Jam Week explains, “Jam is cool, it shouldn’t be left at the back of the cupboard.  Take it out, dust it off and try it with something new like pancakes, cheese or pate”. 

Clippy’s mission is to establish an annual event celebrating the rich history of jam and the important role it plays within our culture, and to persuade consumers to push aside the cheap, sugary jams and demand the higher quality, fragrant and fruity jams.

How can you get involved with National Jam Week?

• Step 1: visit the website www.jamweek.org
• Step 2: send in your favourite jam sandwich recipe to win a years supply of Clippy’s Apples award winning jams.
• Step 3: send in your thoughts concerning all things ‘jammy’ and they’ll publish the best ones - “fig jam & stinky blue cheese. Mmmm”

www.jamweek.org / www.clippys.com / www.preservingthenation.org