Quince Jam

[ina]

I'm envious! I love them, and haven't seen any since I've come up here... I think they don't like the wind.

[Mrs Moustoir]

My brother, who lives in the Vendee, has a huge quince tree but most of the fruit just rots as he has so many!

I've asked him to bring me a box full when he comes to see us. I just love the smell of quince jelly and as MMM says, they add a certain something to apple crumbles.

[Silver Ether]

scented and fruity ... tis good stuff and I opened a jar after I had read this thread It shone and tasted great ... the date on the jar is october 2006 now thats good keeping ... I am careful with it as my supply of quice was hit and miss then the old guy who owned the tree past over ... Just waiting to see if the new folks have kept the tree, when they eventually move in.

[Millymollymandy]

How funny, I said the skins looked manky on the ones I bought but it's just that fluffy stuff they have on them - looked completely different in the harsh light of the supermarket to back home in natural daylight! Skins are fine after all! They'll have to wait though as today is apple chutney plus make yet more tomato sauce/juice day, yawn!

[Millymollymandy]

Well I made the jam but I'm a bit disappointed at the taste - it's nice but nothing special and now I'm wondering if I built up the taste of quince in my head to something it isn't, or is it the probem that I bought supermarket quinces whereas before they came straight off someone's tree?

I grated them by hand and it wasn't hard work, although they turned dark brown immediately! Still have some to part cook then freeze for adding to crumbles.

[ina]

It may well be that they've managed to breed the special taste out of the commercially grown quinces in favour of all the other things they want, i.e. better keeping qualities, no bruising etc (and often less special flavour, so they appeal to more people - grrrr!)

[Green Aura]

This thread is brilliant - not for it's content but that quince are being talked about at all. I'd never seen any quinces until about 5 years ago and then only at Unicorn Grocery - a fantastic vegan shop in Manchester. We only bought them then because my mother got really excited and promised to make some jelly. Which she did and it was delicious.

Prior to that I'd only heard of them in The Owl and the Pussycat!

[Millymollymandy]

I've always been aware of quince jelly, think it was something that was common during my childhood/growing up years. But then I've heard from English people that you couldn't buy bramble jelly any more in the shops in England which sounds crazy but who knows? I used to buy both made by Bonne Maman when I lived in London though.

And Ina, you're probably right. Although we have far more local i.e. French produce here in France and less out of season imported stuff, even our French apples are for the most part pappy and floury and disgusting. How they can be like that whilst in season, I do not know. I despair sometimes!

[Green Aura]

even our French apples are for the most part pappy and floury

Which is exactly the texture of Bramleys - just sweet. Maybe they grow them for cooking?

[Silver Ether]

Prior to that I'd only heard of them in The Owl and the Pussycat!

a favourite from my childhood ...

[Millymollymandy]

even our French apples are for the most part pappy and floury

Which is exactly the texture of Bramleys - just sweet. Maybe they grow them for cooking?

No this is all of them, all well known types of apple plus those funny new ones. Well OK I haven't tried them all but you know which ones I mean. Supermarket ones. Grannies and Goldens and Galas etc. Grannies are the best buy to be honest.

I have a tree which is a 'compote' apple - sweet and floury when ripe and is exactly meant for apple sauce (compote here in France). Then our (other) stored apples go like this after a few months but they aren't like this right now - they are crunchy and juicy and like wot apples should be like!!

[Thomzo]

Ok, I'm hooked. I made some quince jam at the weekend and it's delicious. I've only ever had quinces chopped into apple crumble before and I wonder now if it wasn't cooked enough. This tastes totally different, delicately flavoured, almost like strawberry jam. I'd recommend it to anyone.

Zoe

[thesunflowergal]

Just think of all the Quinces that you have wasted Zoe. Hope you the cats and chooks are well. xx

[Millymollymandy]

Yay! And try some jelly as well - equally delicious!

[cocobelle]

Quince is lovely, quite an ancient fruit that is making a real resurgence.