"We Will Never Make Anything 'Normal'"

The question we hear all the time

"Can't you just make a normal strawberry jam?"

We get this question a lot. Usually followed by "Why does everything have to be so... bold?"

The answer is simple: because normal is boring. And we've never been very good at boring.

Why Cherry Bakewell isn't just cherries

Take our Cherry Bakewell Jam. Most people would stick to cherries, maybe add some sugar, call it a day. But we tasted that classic almond-cherry combination from the beloved British tart and thought: what if we could capture that exact flavour in a jar? So we did. Sweet cherries meet subtle almond essence, creating something that tastes like childhood memories and Sunday afternoon treats.

The supermarket inspiration that changed everything

Or our Pineapple & Jalapeño Chutney – definitely not normal. The idea came to us during a particularly uninspiring trip to the supermarket. Shelf after shelf of the same brown, mushy chutneys that all seemed to taste like sweet vinegar with mysterious chunks. We wanted something that would wake up your taste buds, something unexpected.

"Sweet and heat," Ryan said on the drive home. "Like a tropical holiday with a kick."

Two weeks of experimentation later, we had it: juicy pineapple chunks balanced with just enough jalapeño heat to make things interesting. It's become one of our bestsellers, perfect with everything from grilled halloumi to roast pork.

Our flavour development philosophy

The truth is, we make what we want to eat. And what we want to eat is never just 'normal.'

When we're developing a new flavour, we don't start with "What would be safe?" or "What would sell well?" We start with "What would make us excited to open the fridge?"

The combinations that make people do double-takes

Sometimes that means our Beetroot & Horseradish Chutney – earthy sweetness with a sinus-clearing kick that pairs incredibly with rare beef. Sometimes it's our Summer Punch Jam, bursting with tropical fruits that taste like sunshine in a jar.

Our kitchen is full of flavour combinations that make people do double-takes: "Beer in chutney? Really?" (Yes, our Pale Ale Chutney is incredible with strong cheeses.) "Salted caramel... sauce?" (Trust us on this one – it transforms everything from ice cream to cheese boards.)

Chasing that perfect reaction

We've learned that the best reactions come from the combinations that sound slightly mad at first. That moment when someone tries our Hot Garlic Chutney and their eyes widen with surprise and delight – that's what we're chasing.

Normal strawberry jam? You can find that anywhere. But a jam that makes you pause mid-bite and think "Where has this been all my life?" – that's what we're here for.

Because life's too short for predictable flavours.

What's the most unusual flavour combination you've fallen in love with? Share your discoveries with us – we're always looking for our next inspiration.