Another orange post!
By Fleur
@Fleura (29075)
United Kingdom
January 13, 2021 11:15am CST
No not an overdose of squashes this time, but in contrast a lack of oranges!
I have almost reached the bottom of my last jar of marmalade. This is a crisis! Normally I make a batch of marmalade and it is enough to last a couple of years. The jar in the picture says 2017. The current jar I’m just finishing was made in January 2019.
I don’t eat a huge amount but I do like marmalade on my morning toast now and then, and nothing else will do. No other type of preserve has that particular mix of sweet and bitter flavours, and no shop-bought marmalade is quite right. There are some nice ones available, but I still prefer my home-made ‘brand’.
The special Seville oranges necessary are only available for a short period in January/February. The problem is that of course we are staying at home as much as possible, so I don’t want to go out and just scout around all the supermarkets just for that. And if I wait until we need a big grocery shop I might miss them!
I’ve tried looking online but all the usual places say ‘unavailable’ or ‘out of stock’. Somewhat strangely, Amazon claim to have them, but I try to avoid buying from them if I can. Meanwhile someone on Ebay is trying to sell them for about five times the regular price.
Hope I find some soon or I will have to wait an entire marmalade-free year!
All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2021.
20 people like this
21 responses
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
13 Jan 21
We've been experiencing shortages on a regular basis, not that many products but some surprising ones. Peanut butter, limits on how much beef or other meats we can buy. No paper products available, (toilet tissue, facial tissues, or hand towels) hand, dish, and laundry soaps and other cleaning supplies. Some of this one expects when everyone is trying to stay squeaky clean to avoid the virus, but peanut butter ???
You'll probably need to phone your local stores to see if they have what you need or can get it. We discovered an interesting phenomenon with one big store chain. Their website shows they have a product but when one orders it, it isn't available when we show up to pick up our order. An employee explained that the company would post they had the product as soon as it was loaded on the truck for delivery to the store, Never mind it might take days for the truck to arrive and be unloaded and product stocked on the shelf.
3 people like this
@arunima25 (85238)
• Bangalore, India
13 Jan 21
My mom makes yummy marmalade. And you are right nothing beats home made marmalade. Hope you get what you are looking for at reasonable price.
2 people like this
@arunima25 (85238)
• Bangalore, India
20 Jan 21
@Fleura Definitely everything will be factored.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (48859)
• United States
14 Jan 21
Orange marmalade was one of my daddy’s favorites.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (48859)
• United States
14 Jan 21
@Fleura I actually ordered some from England for my son this Christmas.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (29075)
• United Kingdom
14 Jan 21
@Tampa_girl7 That's dedication! Did it get there OK?
1 person likes this
@Namelesss (3368)
• United States
13 Jan 21
Good luck on your search. Maybe you could call some of your local stores and ask then go out to get them if you find any. Homemade marmalade is awesome.
2 people like this
@JimBo452020 (42629)
• United Kingdom
13 Jan 21
Aye. Running out of home made Marmalade is a major incident right enough.
We used to make it,
Used those big tins Asda used to have.
If Imran out of home made I would resort to Keilors.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (29075)
• United Kingdom
13 Jan 21
@JimBo452020 Very true, but I'd still rather make it. I should send you a jar (that would be a frugal acquisition!)
1 person likes this
@JimBo452020 (42629)
• United Kingdom
13 Jan 21
@Fleura
Aye
And I could send you a jar of my homemade Raspberry Jam.
1 person likes this
@JimBo452020 (42629)
• United Kingdom
13 Jan 21
@Fleura
Frank Cooper's is good., It really is.
If something is good I don't mind paying for it.
I am frugal,
Posts re our bargain hunt food shopping prove that.
But some things are worth spending money on.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157426)
• United States
15 Jan 21
Perhaps you can make a few phone calls and locate the oranges, then go shop for them. What a pretty jar!!
1 person likes this
@Fleura (29075)
• United Kingdom
14 Jan 21
No, I just don't agree with the way they are taking over the world, driving smaller retailers out of business by undercutting their prices then when shops have all closed and there are no other jobs, taking on staff for low wages and poor conditions.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
14 Jan 21
I much prefer the marmalade from the UK or Ireland, it's what my mom always bought. And I agree Seville oranges are a must, good luck I hope you find some.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
14 Jan 21
@Fleura lol I'd rather you kept me supplied lol Just kidding!!
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
17 Jan 21
I've never tried marmalade... *shrug* I rarely eat jams or jellies, though. I used to make strawberry preserves but haven't bothered in years. I buy a jar from Walmart when I want some... and then when I want some more, I find it has started to mold in the jar. *sigh* (Pretty won't eat strawberry preserves. Now you know why I quit making it.)
I'm glad to see you found some of the oranges you need to make your next batch.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
17 Jan 21
@Fleura That is what usually happens. 
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69416)
• Germany
13 Jan 21
I like jam and make it myself, too, but not marmalade. This mixture of sweet and bitter you like so much doesn't appeal to me. Obviously, one must be British to like it. When one goes to England and stays in hotels or boarding houses, one only ever gets marmalade.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (29075)
• United Kingdom
13 Jan 21
Apparently it's going out of fashion. Maybe the adoption of chocolate with everything has overtaken such traditional flavours (like liquorice as well). I love it though, I'd much rather have marmalade than chocolate spread on my toast! I have also given jars to friends only to find that within a day they had eaten the lot, straight out of the jar with a spoon!
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
14 Jan 21
oh no! i hope yer able to find some soon, hon. i'd not wish 'em ordered either coz once they 'rrive yer kinda schtuck with 'em. quite oft not ripened 'n the flavor 'off'. i 'gree with ya'n the store bought schtuff, 'tis ne'er quite the same's that'cha made'n put'p yerself. i shall keep fingers crossed fer ya!
1 person likes this
@samysotelo18 (7744)
• Mexico
13 Jan 21
I really hope you find the fruit you're looking for, I know that feeling of not getting a good orange marmalade, I've tried several kinds but the only one I've liked is the smuckers one lol.
That's because I don't know how to prepare it myself without it tasting sour bc of the peel.
Still yours looks very delicious!
1 person likes this
