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Yuzu and pear top at World Marmalade championships

Hermione McCosh Three people are sitting around a table which holds a number of jars of marmalade in various shades of orange. To the left is a woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a striped top in shades of pink and red. Next to her is smiling woman with blonde hair, wearing spectacles and a red scarf around her neck. Opposite, and holding a jar of marmalade is a grey-bearded man wearing spectacles, a flat cap and dark jacket. Seven people - slightly out of focus - are standing watching them.Hermione McCosh
About 30 judges take part in blind tastings

A yuzu and pear preserve has taken the top title at the World Marmalade Awards.

Now in its 20th year, the festival at Dalemain, near Penrith in Cumbria, attracts thousands of entries from around the world.

Hitomi Wakamura, from Tokyo, said it was a "great honour" to be chosen as winner in the homemade category.

The champion marmalade will now go on sale at Fortnum & Mason in London, with a percentage of the proceeds going to the charity Hospice at Home.

Beatrice Hasell-McCosh, director of awards, said: 'It is a brilliant win for an overseas competitor in this competition which upholds the ideal in British standard marmalade making.

"Yuzu has become more and more popular in the past decade with many entries using this gorgeous, perfumed citrus in their recipes.

"It is a well deserved win for Hitomi Wakamura and special that it comes as we mark our 20th anniversary year and that she was able to travel all the way from Japan to be with us and receive her prize in person."

Hitomi Wakamura said: "It's a great honour that my Yuzu and Pear marmalade was chosen in the Homemade Competition this year.

"I would like to thank all those involved for giving me this opportunity. "

Hermoine McCosh Three tables covered in white tablecloths with looped banners of leaves. They hold dozens of jars of preserve in various shades of orange. Behind them is a line of vases with flowers, mostly orange, and what appears to be a miniature version of a Georgian country house.Hermoine McCosh
The competition attracted more than 3,000 entries

The 3,200 entries this year came from as far afield as Hawaii, New Zealand, South Korea, Botswana and Georgia, along with many from around the UK.

As well as the citrus-based offerings, some contained more unusual ingredients such as caterpillars, capers and Irn Bru.

The festival began in 2005 to celebrate community, "find the best marmalade in the world", and raise money for charity - so far more than £32,000.

Over the years it has attracted an international following, especially from Japan, and in 2019 a sister festival was established in Yawatahama City - a prime citrus growing area.

Last year Jane Hasell-McCosh, founder of the awards, was presented with The Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays, which recognises people who have made distinguished contributions to Japan.

Past winners of the Dalemain award include an octogenarian, a seven-year-old girl and a self-confessed "marmalade nut", who scooped the prize on his seventh attempt.

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