Man crowned as champion at world marmalade awards in Cumbria

The buyers from Fortnum & Mason narrowed the competition from thousands down to two jars, a Seville orange and lime marmalade with red chilli and a lime and crème de cacao recipe which were both by Stephen Snead. In an unprecedented move, Fortnum & Mason chose both as joint winners. 

Some of the marmalades on display at the awards (Image: Beatrice McCosh)I’m doubly thrilled that my two marmalades have won double gold at this year’s awards,” said Stephen.

“I love being creative with flavour combinations to make marmalades for different times of the day, and I’m so proud of these two.

"I’m delighted that the judges enjoyed them. I hope everyone else does too and that they raise lots of money for a wonderful charity.”

The awards have been running for 19 years and this is the first time lime has taken the top prize, beating international competition from Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Canada, Austria, India and beyond. 

Judging the competition (Image: Hermione McCosh)This year the festival welcomed a number of high-profile visitors to the festival at Dalemain including his excellency, Ambassador Hayashi, ambassador for Japan to the UK and Mr Chi-Young Chen director of economic affairs for Taiwan in the UK. 

The deputy high commissioner of Australia, Elisabeth Bowes helped to judge the ‘Marmalashes’ alongside the director of the Dalemain Australia awards, Jane Harley. 

Mayor Oshiro the Director of the Dalemain Japan awards was at the festival with a delegation from Yawatahama where the festival in Japan is held. 

Lady Elizabeth Leeming, president of Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland was present to receive the Fortnum & Mason cheque.

Of the 15 homemade category winners four different winners hail from Devon - including a seaweed marmalade and three from different parts of Japan.

Haverigg prison beat more than 20 entries into the prisons category - including one from the USA and there were more entries than ever before where friends and family cooked together. 

The Westmorland Family Local Flavours category showcased local and home-grown ingredients ranging from local Apple cider in Ontario, Canada to bush honey in Australia and wonderful citrus local to a Taiwanese orphanage. 

“Thousands of lime marmalades have been entered over the last 19 years but none of which have taken the top prize - Stephen's entries were absolutely outstanding,” said Beatrice Hasell-McCosh, director of The Dalemain world marmalade awards.

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“It was a delight to celebrate marmalade at the festival this year with visitors to Cumbria from around the world including Artisan makers from Hawaii, Taiwan, Norway and Japan and beyond who came to collect their Gold Awards from Chris Holmes the new high sheriff of Cumbria this weekend.” 

The two Homemade winning jars will be on sale at Dalemain and Fortnum & Mason with a percentage of the sale from each jar going to charity.