LOLA'S GARDEN JAM: THE SMALL STORY OF JAMS

Of course, large production of jams appeared in France, country of the gluttons. But as sugar is needed to make jam we have to wait the time of Crusades. Before the way to give a taste of sugar was the honey. It is said Alexander the Great heard about "the reed which gives honey without bees"; people of Negros recognizes the sugar cane, I think...
It is so expensive that only the nobility can afford sweet meals and only for sweet and sour dishes.

First page of the treatise of
Nostradamus

As for many matters, Europe discovered the sugar and jams through the Arabian world. But at the beginning jams (confitures in French) was called "letuaires" which means medicine to lick. Doctor Nostradamus himself (1555) wrote a jam treatise where sugar and fruits are considered as a medicine.
Then, from medicine, jam becomes a greed. When the source of sugar in Europe changes from sugar cane to sugar beet, in the 19th century, sugar is low cost and jam extend everywhere.
In France, in 2004, the annual production of jam is around 120 000 tons plus 30 000 tons home made. 35 types of fruits are used but 50% is strawberry and apricot jams. French people eats 2 kg of jam per year, just before English and German.

The question of the week:

You told about new jams. Do you have soon new favours ?

Yes, we are working on. Next week you will probably discover a new rare jam which is really original. We finalize the processing and offer you a new bud taste experience. But for now, we keep secret...