Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb Season and the Making of Our British Rhubarb Jam
Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb Season and the Making of Our British Rhubarb Jam
Why Yorkshire forced rhubarb is so special, and how it gives our British Rhubarb Jam its bright, elegant character.
Yorkshire forced rhubarb season is one of the great moments in the British food calendar. For a few short weeks, this remarkable fruit appears with its vivid pink stalks, delicate sweetness and lively, refreshing tang. For us, it marks the return of one of our most loved seasonal jars: British Rhubarb Jam.
Handmade in our Gloucestershire kitchen, our artisan rhubarb jam captures the bright sweet-sharp character of proper Yorkshire forced rhubarb. We keep the recipe simple so the fruit can speak clearly, and the result is a jam that feels fresh, elegant and unmistakably seasonal.
Once you taste forced rhubarb, it is easy to understand why it inspires such devotion. Compared with outdoor rhubarb, it is usually more tender, more refined and beautifully aromatic. That balance of gentle sweetness and clean acidity makes it perfect for preserving.
Our British Rhubarb Jam has long been one of our favourite limited edition preserves. Vibrant, fruit-led and beautifully balanced, it is a true celebration of British produce and the craftsmanship behind it.
Meet Our Grower
Robert Tomlinson, known affectionately as “Rhubarb Robert”, is the fourth generation of his family to grow rhubarb in Pudsey, in the heart of West Yorkshire’s famous Rhubarb Triangle.
His family has grown rhubarb for more than 140 years, passing down knowledge, skill and tradition through the generations. Working with growers like Robert allows us to use fruit with real provenance, grown with care and harvested at exactly the right moment.
That provenance matters. When you begin with exceptional Yorkshire forced rhubarb, you can create a rhubarb jam with real clarity of flavour, natural brightness and a sense of place.
What Makes Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb So Special?
Yorkshire forced rhubarb begins life outdoors, where the plants spend two full years building strength and storing energy in their roots. Then, when winter arrives, growers lift the roots and move them into warm, dark forcing sheds.
Inside these quiet buildings, something rather magical happens. Deprived of sunlight, the rhubarb stalks stretch upwards in search of light, growing long and elegant with their distinctive blush-pink colour.
Growers often say you can even hear them growing: a faint creaking sound in the stillness of the shed. It is one of those lovely details that makes Yorkshire forced rhubarb feel almost mythic.
Because the plants grow in darkness, the energy stored in the roots moves into the stems. As a result, the rhubarb develops a sweeter, more tender and more aromatic character than outdoor-grown stalks. That is exactly what makes it so prized by chefs, bakers and preserve makers alike.
It is also what gives our British Rhubarb Jam its vivid flavour, bright colour and elegant finish.
How to Enjoy British Rhubarb Jam
Our British Rhubarb Jam is delicious spread on warm toast, croissants or crumpets. It is equally good swirled through yoghurt, spooned over porridge or served with scones for a quietly glorious spring breakfast.
If you like baking, it also works beautifully in sponge cakes, blondies and simple desserts. Even a spoonful with shortbread or almond cake brings out its lovely tart-sweet character.
Each jar captures a little piece of Yorkshire’s growing heritage, as well as the fleeting beauty of forced rhubarb season itself.
British Rhubarb Jam FAQs
What is Yorkshire forced rhubarb?
Yorkshire forced rhubarb is rhubarb grown in dark forcing sheds after the roots have matured outdoors. This traditional method produces stalks that are more tender, delicately coloured and often sweeter than outdoor rhubarb.
Why is forced rhubarb better for jam?
Forced rhubarb has a finer texture, bright flavour and beautiful natural colour. Because of that, it makes a more elegant, fruit-led rhubarb jam with a lovely balance of sweetness and acidity.
What is the Rhubarb Triangle?
The Rhubarb Triangle is the traditional growing area in West Yorkshire that became famous for producing forced rhubarb. It is one of Britain’s most distinctive and celebrated regional food traditions.
Where can I buy British Rhubarb Jam?
You can shop our British Rhubarb Jam here. It is made in small seasonal batches, so availability is limited while the rhubarb season lasts.
Written by Sarah Churchill, chef and founder of The Artisan Kitchen.
