Jam & Marmalade FAQs | The Artisan Kitchen
Helpful information
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions we’re asked most often about our award-winning jams and marmalades, from ingredients and shelf life to delivery, gifting and packaging. Every jar is made by hand in our Gloucestershire preserving kitchen using whole fruit, traditional methods and a very serious amount of care.
Dietary & Ingredients
Ordering & Delivery
Gifting
Packaging
Retail & Wholesale
Offers & Policies
Our Products
Our jams and marmalades are made in small batches in Gloucestershire using whole fruit, traditional preserving methods and a chef’s eye for flavour, balance and texture.
What products do you make?
We make small-batch jams, marmalades and seasonal preserves. Our range includes classic fruit jams, citrus-led marmalades, limited seasonal releases and award-winning recipes made with whole fruit.
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Our preserves are fruit led rather than sugar led, with recipes built around flavour, texture, brightness and balance. Some are traditional, some are playful, and some are only available for a short season.
How do you make your jams and marmalades?
Every jar is made by hand in our purpose-built preserving kitchen in Gloucestershire. We cook in small batches using whole fruit and traditional preserving techniques.
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Each recipe is cooked carefully to preserve the character of the fruit. The jars are then filled, labelled, packed and dispatched by us personally, which keeps the process beautifully small scale and quality focused.
How much fruit is in your products?
Fruit is always the leading ingredient. Most of our jams and marmalades contain at least 70g of fruit per 100g, and many contain more.
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Exact fruit percentages are listed on individual product pages under the Ingredients and Nutritional Information tabs.
How much sugar is in your jams and marmalades?
Traditional jam and marmalade need sugar to set properly, preserve safely and remain shelf stable. Our preserves are carefully balanced so the fruit remains the main flavour.
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Sugar is not simply added for sweetness. In traditional preserving, it helps with set, colour, texture, flavour and shelf life. We use it with purpose, allowing the natural brightness and depth of the fruit to lead.
Exact nutritional values are listed on individual product pages.
Why do handmade preserves vary from batch to batch?
Small-batch preserves can vary naturally because real fruit changes with the season. Colour, texture, set and sweetness may differ slightly from one batch to another.
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Fruit varies in sweetness, acidity, pectin and water content. These subtle differences are part of genuine small-scale preserving and do not affect quality.
Why does marmalade sometimes vary in colour?
Marmalade colour can vary naturally depending on the fruit, season and cooking time. Handmade marmalade may range from bright golden amber to deeper citrus tones.
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We do not use colourings or artificial ingredients to standardise appearance. Ingredients such as sherry, brown sugar, blood orange or bitters can also create deeper shades in certain recipes.
What is the shelf life of your products?
We guarantee a minimum of 12 months’ shelf life from dispatch, although many jars will have a longer best before date.
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Traditional preserving methods make our jams and marmalades naturally shelf stable before opening. Once opened, store in the fridge and enjoy within 3 weeks for best quality.
How long do your products last once opened?
Once opened, keep your jar in the fridge and enjoy within 3 weeks. Always use a clean, dry spoon to help maintain freshness.
Dietary & Ingredients
Ingredient lists and nutritional details are shown clearly on each individual product page.
Are your products gluten-free?
We do not label or market our preserves as gluten-free. Please check the individual product page and product label for the most up-to-date ingredients and allergen information.
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If you have coeliac disease, a food allergy or a specific dietary concern, please contact us before ordering and we will be happy to provide further information.
Are your products suitable for vegetarians and vegans?
All of our jams and marmalades are suitable for vegetarians. Most are also suitable for vegans, with a small number of exceptions.
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Products that are not suitable for vegans include recipes containing honey, chocolate or cacao ingredients that may contain milk.
Toffee Apple Jam
Honey Lemon Marmalade
Raspberry Chocolate Jam
Seville Orange Cacao Marmalade
Please check the individual product page before ordering, as recipes and ingredients can occasionally change.
Ordering & Delivery
Practical details about online ordering, dispatch, tracking, payment and collection.
How long will my order take to arrive?
Orders are usually dispatched within 1–3 working days from our Gloucestershire kitchen. Once dispatched, parcels are sent using tracked UK delivery.
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We dispatch Monday to Thursday throughout the working day, and on Fridays until 12 noon. Orders placed after 12 noon on Friday are usually processed from the following Monday. Working days exclude weekends and bank holidays.
Delivery times are estimates provided by the courier. During busy periods, such as Christmas or seasonal launches, processing and delivery may take a little longer.
I haven’t received my order confirmation. What should I do?
Please check your junk or spam folder first. If you still cannot find your order confirmation, contact us and we can check your order for you.
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Sometimes automated emails are filtered by email providers. If you have unsubscribed from emails in the past, this may also affect order updates. Email hello@theartisankitchen.co.uk and we’ll happily confirm your order details.
Do you ship outside the UK?
We currently offer delivery within the United Kingdom only.
Can I order over the phone?
All orders are placed through our secure online checkout. This helps us keep payment processing safe and ensures order details are recorded accurately.
I’m having trouble checking out. What should I do?
Our website uses enhanced security protection at checkout. Occasionally, a genuine customer’s connection may be blocked if a VPN, iCloud Private Relay or a similar privacy service is being used.
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If you see a message saying that we are unable to process your request or order, this does not necessarily mean your card has been declined. The website security may be preventing the connection from reaching the payment stage.
If you are using a VPN, Apple iCloud Private Relay or another service that hides or changes your IP address, please temporarily switch it off, refresh the checkout page and try again using your usual internet connection.
The same security can occasionally affect our contact form. If you are unable to send a message through the form, please try again with these services temporarily switched off.
If you are still unable to complete your order or contact us through the website, please email hello@theartisankitchen.co.uk and we’ll be happy to help.
Do I need a PayPal account to order?
No. You can pay securely by debit or credit card through our online checkout. You do not need a PayPal account to place an order.
Where are you based and can I collect?
We are based in Gloucester, Gloucestershire. As we operate from a working production kitchen rather than a shop, we are not able to offer customer collections.
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All orders are dispatched directly from our kitchen using tracked delivery, so every parcel is packed and handled in the same careful way.
Gifting
Thoughtful finishing touches for sending preserves directly as a gift.
Can you add a gift message and gift wrap?
Yes. At checkout, you can add gift wrapping and include a personalised message. Your note will be handwritten on one of our signature notecards.
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Gift orders are wrapped with care, making them ready to send directly to the recipient.
Can I send a gift directly to someone else?
Yes. Enter the recipient’s address at checkout and we’ll send the parcel directly to them. No pricing information is enclosed.
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If you add a gift message, we will handwrite it on a notecard so the parcel feels personal when it arrives.
Packaging & Sustainability
How we protect your jars in transit, and how to recycle or reuse them afterwards.
Is your packaging recyclable?
Our glass jars, jar lids and cardboard outer packaging are widely recyclable. We also use compostable packing chippings to help protect parcels in transit.
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Our compostable packing chippings can be dissolved under running water or added to home compost.
Our signature paper tag is recyclable, while the elastic is not currently recyclable. If you would prefer your order without the tag and elastic, please add a note at checkout and we will happily remove them.
We continue to review our packaging so it balances safe delivery, environmental responsibility and thoughtful presentation.
How can I remove the label and reuse the jar?
Our labels use a strong adhesive so they stay secure during transit and storage. To reuse the jar, warm the label first, then remove any residue with a suitable adhesive remover.
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Warming the label with a hairdryer can help soften the glue. For leftover residue, try Sticky Stuff Remover, WD-40, acetone-based nail polish remover, eucalyptus oil or tea tree oil on a cotton pad.
Always wash the jar thoroughly with warm soapy water afterwards, especially if it will be reused for food.
Retail & Wholesale
Information for independent shops, farm shops, delis and fine food retailers.
I’m a shop or retailer. Can I stock your products?
We work with a selection of carefully chosen fine food stores and independent retailers across the UK.
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If you would like to explore stocking our award-winning range, please contact us through our wholesale enquiry form and we’ll be happy to provide more information.
Offers & Policies
A few practical notes about discount codes, order changes, delivery, returns and refunds.
Do you offer discount codes or special offers?
We occasionally run limited-time offers and share discount codes with our mailing list. Each offer is valid only within its stated dates.
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Discount codes cannot usually be applied retrospectively once an order has been placed.
To hear about future offers, join our mailing list or follow us on social media.
Where can I find delivery, returns and refund information?
Full delivery, returns and refund information can be found on our Delivery, Returns & Refunds page. If you need help with a specific order, please contact us and we’ll do our best to help.
Still need help?
We’re always happy to help
If you have a question about ingredients, delivery, gifting or choosing the right preserve, please get in touch and we’ll do our best to help.
