Creating a Jam or Chutney Gift for a Loved One

It’s National Preserves Week here in the UK, and we’ve got all things jam, chutney and conserve on the mind. Long-lasting, available in a selection of sweet and savoury flavours, and even varying in texture, a preserve or conserve makes the perfect accompaniment for many foods and meals. They also make a fantastic gift for a loved one for all kinds of occasions. Here at Virginia Hayward hampers, we’re marking preserves week with this celebratory guide, exploring jams and chutneys, how you can make your own, and how they can be turned into an ideal preserve gift – as well as our choice of the best conserve-based presents.

What are Preserves?

Preserves do what they say on the tin – they preserve the flavour of fresh fruits or vegetables in a thickened mixture that utilises sugar, spices or vinegar to enhance flavours and enhance the longevity of the produce used for up to half a year. All preserves are long-lasting and flavourful, and their consistency means they can be used as accompaniments or condiments in many different settings. There are a few unique types of vegetable and fruit preserves which we’ll run through now:

Jams. Made using chopped or crushed sweet fruits, which are cooked down with sugar. The texture can be smooth and spreadable or contain pieces or chunks of fruit. Classic British jams include strawberry, raspberry, cherry or apricot.

Marmalades. Similar to jam, marmalades differ in the type of fruit they use – containing the juice and peel of citrus fruits as well as sugar. They’re more tangy and bitter than jams. Orange and lemon marmalade are typical favourites.

Chutneys. Savoury rather than sweet, a chutney is made from fruits or vegetables and usually combined with vinegar or spices. Their tangy, savoury taste makes them a great pairing for cheese or bread. Mango chutney is a personal favourite here at Virginia Hayward.

What is a Jam or Chutney Gift?

A preserve gift basket, including jam, marmalade or chutney, doesn’t usually contain just the preserve itself. When given as a gift or a present, preserves are usually arranged in a box or a set, for example as chutney or jam hampers. They make the best gifts when accompanied by food or drink items that pair well with the flavour and type of preserve. This is often a food item to dip or spread with the conserve, for example wafers or cheese with chutney in the evening with a glass of wine.

A jam, marmalade or chutney gift set can make a great gift for a few reasons.

First, the long shelf life of a preserve means they’re a present that will last for a long time after it’s been received. Your lucky person won’t need to stress about using it all at once or getting it finished before a specific end date. Their preserve will stay tasty and ready to use for months after you present it to them.

Second, the gift can be enhanced by pairing it with great accompaniments. Combine a delicious apple chutney with a strong, crumbly cheese. Or add some English scones and classic cream to pair with a pot of rich strawberry jam.

Last, but not least, is that preserves can easily be combined with a huge range of other items outside of your gift. If your recipient has a personal favourite flavour pairing, they can easily combine the jam or chutney with a treat of their own.

Chutney hampers and the like are versatile gifts for all sorts of occasions. Give a friend or family member a preserve as part of a birthday hamper, and they’ll have something to keep, use and remember their special day for weeks and months to come. Or perhaps pack it into a thank you hamper for a favourite teacher or an employee who deserves a reward for their hard work. When the festive season comes around, a delightful chutney never goes amiss in a warming Christmas hamper.

Can You Make a Preserve Gift Set by Yourself?

If you want to really add a personal touch to your gift box or hamper, and have the time and money to achieve it, you can create and assemble the set yourself. Here’s some ideas of what to include:

The preserve(s). Jam, Chutney, Marmalade – pick one, or more, of these as your starting point. Consider the flavours and produce the person receiving the gift likes and find a preserve that fits their tastebuds and dietary preferences or requirements.

A base food. A preserve goes best with something to eat it with, usually something that doesn’t have too much flavour. Your chutney vehicle could be wafers, crackers, bread thins or a crostini. For a jam, scones are a classic choice, but you could always choose some fancy bread for a sandwich.

A flavour pairing. Consider another food item to add an extra kick of flavour. Different cheeses pair well with both chutneys and jams, while dried fruit or perhaps something salty like nuts or crisps.

A drink pairing. A great drink pairing with similar or complementary flavours can round out your gift set.

A suitable container: Your gift needs something to be delivered in, like a personalised gift box or a beautiful wicker basket.

Can You Make Your Own Jam or Chutney?

Yes! It is possible to make your own jam, chutney or marmalade and use that as the central fixture of your gift hamper. Making your own preserve can add an especially personal touch to your present, and you can customise the flavours to best suit your guest.

However, be aware that making your own jam or chutney is a costly and time-consuming process. If you’ve not made a preserve before, you’ll need to spend significant time learning about the process and understanding key processes like sterilising your jars, all before you start cooking. For the inexperienced, it may be preferable to buy rather than make.

Why Is It Better to Buy a Dedicated Preserve Gift Set or Hamper?

There are some key advantages to choosing to buy one of our preserve gift sets or hampers over making one yourself.

Our dedicated preserve gifts are be themed by experts to contain suitable flavour pairings as well as an overall theme, creating a high-quality gift.

You can rely on getting high-quality chutneys or jams from independent businesses specialising in preserves and conserves. This may include items with unique or special flavours.

Save yourself both time and money by not having to choose and laboriously make nor construct a gift set by yourself. Our hand-picked hampers are specially assembled and come in beautiful wicker baskets to enhance the gift.

Get your gift hampers into the hands of your loved one quicker with our careful delivery service, with delivery on all 7 days of the week.

We have a generous selection of hampers containing jams, chutneys and other preserves. Each one has been themed specifically around complementary flavour pairings and around a central topical theme. We have 16 different preserve and condiment hampers, but our experts have picked out a couple of their favourites.

Our Deli Delights Hamper is a collection of all things salty and savoury, which provides the ideal flavour contrast to the Otter Vale Apple with Westcountry Cider Chutney. Enjoy the chutney with English cheddar and red Leicester cheeses, paired with dried fruit and smoked cheese-flavoured crackers. If you’re buying for someone with a bit of a sweet tooth, our Breakfast Tray Hamper contains a double dose of Claire’s Handmade Fine Cut Orange Marmalade and Claire’s Handmade Strawberry Extra Jam. Lavishly spread these over accompanying croissants and enjoy with zesty orange juice.

Preserves are a wonderful gift for food-lovers on any occasion. When combined with the right flavour pairings, chutneys and jams can be tasty, long-lasting presents in a hamper, wicker basket or box. While you can make one yourself, buying a specialised gift hamper from the experts at Virginia Hayward guarantees a quality present that will bring joy and a tasty treat!