Wilkin & Sons - 125 years of jam making

 

Fields of rich strawberries, rows of delicious loganberries and orchards of cherries and plums can be found on Wilkin & Sons Ltd's 1,000 acre estate at Tiptree in Essex, the home of Tiptree preserves.

Fruit farmers since 1860 the Wilkin family had a great understanding of fruit growing before Mr Arthur Charles Wilkin first made conserves from his own strawberries in 1885. The tradition of jam making at Tiptree has been handed down through the generations to the current chairman, Mr Peter J Wilkin the great grandson of the founder. See www.tiptree.com for more details.

In the last 125 years the business has developed to meet the demands of an increasing number of consumers at home and abroad, for Tiptree products are now available in 70 countries. Tiptree Strawberry Conserve remains the top seller but some of the 17 marmalades are in the top ten of popular preserves. Tiptree Lemon Curd was selected by one our favourite cooks for a very easy Lemon Tart and two famous bikers chose Crab Apple Jelly for a recipe.

Fruit picking and jam making are labour intensive tasks. At Tiptree all the fruit is still picked by hand and each summer the traditional "caravan" pickers, mainly retired people, and overseas students gather the crops from May to October.

 

Visitors to Essex have a choice of Wilkin & Sons' tea rooms each providing traditional waiter service but in contrasting locations:

Tiptree Visitors' Centre overlooking the orchards.
The Jam Museum has examples of factory and village life. The Jam Shop has an extensive range of preserves, cards and gifts. The Tea Room and Terrace offer morning treats, lunch and cream teas
A special high tea is available, please ask for details.

The Essex Rose 16th century Tea House Dedham
A beautiful timber framed house in the centre of the village, close to the ancient church and 5 minutes from the River Stour and Constable Country. Coffee, lunch and Tiptree cream teas.

"the lock" tea room on the waterfront at Heybridge Basin
An airy tea room with a popular terrace overlooking the Blackwater Estuary. Home cooked English breakfasts using local ingredients are very popular, lunch and teas are also available.

Diary date: Open Farm Sunday 13th June 2010 at Tiptree. Go to www.tiptree.com for more information.