The 13^th annual World’s Original Marmalade Awards, is set to take place on 17 March, with entries already flooding in from around the globe to Dalemain Mansion in the Lake District.

Founded in 2005 to help to preserve, grow and widen one of the most British of customs – marmalade making – the awards have since gone from strength to strength. As well as showcasing thousands of lovingly created homemade marmalades, the Artisan competition is now recognised as a key event for quality producers.

This year will welcome new artisan judges, most notably talented chef and main food columnist for the Saturday Telegraph, Xanthe Clay and consultant pastry chef to Waitrose, Will Torrent. They will join the small panel of experts in finding the best marmalades in the world for 2018.

Last year’s awards attracted entries from over 30 countries including Japan, Columbia, Singapore and Canada and with a new ‘Commonwealth Competition’ in 2018 organisers are hoping that this will be the most international year yet.

Founder and marmalade lover, Jane Hasell-McCosh said: “It is always so exciting to see all of the wonderful flavours and ingredients that are sent from all over the globe. I love to see exotic versions of such a quintessentially British product arriving at my home, which every spring becomes the centre of the Marmalade world. We look forward to welcoming many more international Gold winners to the Awards ceremony at the Festival.”

The Awards also remain hugely popular locally, with entries flooding in from across Cumbria, and entrants keen to help raise funds for local charities. The Awards & Festival have raised more than £200,000 for Hospice care, and hope to significantly add to this amount in 2018, with the full donation for every homemade entry going directly to charity.

At the heart of the Awards & Festival is Dalemain Mansion –  a Georgian stately home and the holder of a rich archive of early marmalade recipes – where all the glorious, golden homemade entries will be on display, with a selection of the artisan marmalades available to taste and buy.

For more information visit www.marmaladeawards.com