THE 14th World’s Original Marmalade Awards has attracted exhibitors from dozens of countries across the globe.

Entries for this year's event, held annually at Dalemain Mansion, near Penrith, has just closed and almost 3,000 jams will be displayed in 2019 from more than 40 countries.

Organisers say this demonstrates that despite dire predictions about the future of the preserve, far from going out of fashion, it has now firmly become a global obsession.

The awards are seen as the pinnacle of marmalade making and as well as entries from enthusiasts in Australia, Canada and Spain, they now receive jars from Hong Kong, Mexico, Indonesia and Ukraine.

Japanese entrants, long some of the most enthusiastic competitors, have meanwhile entered hundreds of jars into both the homemade and artisan competitions ahead of the first Dalemain Marmalade Awards in Japan, which will take place in Yawatahama from May 12 to 19.

Popular ingredients in 2019 include ginger, chilli, passion fruit and pineapple, and alongside the usual lemon, lime and whiskey the awards received marmalade containing potato vodka, mango, sake, prosecco and even carrot cake!

Although the competition is now closed, late entrants are still in with a chance with the ‘Thursday Cottage Commonwealth Competition’, which is accepting entries until March 14 and welcomes jars from any of the 53 Commonwealth countries.

As well as a symbol of how marmalade inspires friendships around the world, this competition is also a celebration of local flavours and ingredients. Entries so far include a Canadian marmalade containing homemade organic lemons, fennel, cumin and coriander, and a Kenyan creation excitingly labelled ‘Kenyalade’!

The Marmalade Awards Collection Points proved hugely popular this year, with sponsors Fortnum & Mason collecting record numbers of entries at three of their stores with their ‘jar exchange’, whereby entrants were gifted with a jar of Fortnums marmalade in return for their well-loved homemade offerings.

The Virgin Trains Marmalade Express once again sped up the West Coast mainline collecting entries with jars arriving at Penrith station all the way from places like Ecuador.

The winner of the 2019 Marmalade Awards will be announced at the festival taking place on March 16.

The 2019 ‘best-in-show’ will have their marmalade commercially produced by sponsors Thursday Cottage and sold at Fortnum & Mason and Dalemain, with 50p from each jar going to Hospice at Home Carlisle & the North Lakes, the main beneficiary of the awards.

Visitors to the festival will be treated to a day of songs, stalls, lectures, workshops, cookery demonstrations, storytelling and, of course, lots and lots of marmalade! For more information about the festival visit: www.dalemain.com/marmalade-festival