How to make the best cumquat jam

How to make perfect cumquat jam with step-by-step photos. Follow these tips and tricks to make the perfect homemade cumquat jam. Great to have at home or for gifts.

I have a love-hate relationship with cumquats (or kumquats as they are known in the US). The tasty result is really the only thing that allows me to overcome the fact that I hate chopping them up. Our tree produces an over-abundance of fruit every year, so I have become very skilled at finding new ways of cooking with cumquats. Cumquat jam is also not a common jam, so it’s great to be able to make something that can’t be found everywhere. It also makes the perfect gift.

But, I also have a ‘love’ relationship with jam. I blame France for that. I love the sticky pots of fresh fruit that I smother on a baguette, or eat in a beautiful pastry. Back home, I love trying to replicate these wonderful jams.  There is nothing like making your own jams and now, I find myself wanting to make more and more things with our citrus fruit.

This old-fashioned cumquat jam recipe is a family one that has been handed down over generations.

Being such a small fruit makes it tricky to prep them. But, like anything in life, if you put in the hard yards upfront, you will be ultimately rewarded. It’s important to start with fresh cumquats. Having them fresh makes them easier to cut.

I’m lucky because I have a tree so I can harvest them whenever they are in season. 500g (1.1 lb) of fruit is enough to make a couple of bottles of cumquat jam. Because it isn’t the quickest thing to prepare you probably don’t want to use any more than that at one time.

Why this recipe works

This cumquat jam recipe works because of the attention to detail that is given in the preparation stages. Whilst it is labour intensive in the first instance, sticking at it will ensure you have great jam at the end, and your effort will be rewarded. There are other recipes on the internet for “easy cumquat jam”. They might be easier, but they don’t always set and it doesn’t taste exactly the same. The texture is different and quite often it’s full of seeds. This is a seedless cumquat jam.
The cumquat pith and seeds are high in natural pectin meaning that you will get a good set on your job every time.
This recipe does not recommend making it in large batches. So, whilst it will take a while to prepare your fruit, you can manage it with small amounts of the fruit to start with.
The jam, once made, will last quite a while in the fridge, meaning you can take advantage of the fruit when it is in season, and enjoy it all year round.
There is no wastage. All parts of the fruit are used in this jam.
This is a jam with a strong flavour and unlike many commercial jams, is not overtly sweet.
It’s versatile. Cumquat jam can be used as a breakfast item but is also great in cakes and biscuits. Cumquat jam makes for a perfect jam drop!

Tip:  Don’t be tempted to make larger batches of this.  Whilst items such as cakes can easily have their mixture doubled even tripled, jam does not react well to this at all.  The more fruit, the more sugar, the more liquid is produced, the longer the cooking time, the greater the impact on the pectin and so it goes on.  Cooking jam for too long also takes the flavour out of it.  Less is more when it comes to making jam.

Recipe ingredient notes

• White sugar may be substituted for raw sugar. The measurement remains the same.
• Whilst this recipe notes 500g of cumquats in the ingredient list, it really does not matter. Once you have processed the fruit and are ready to cook, you will measure the amount of fruit you have and use that as the basis for the amount of sugar. At this stage it does not matter whether you cooked with 300g, 500g, or 800g.
• No additional pectin is required.
• The recipe calls for juice of one lemon. Whilst there is no specific measurement for this, I always like to try and use the largest and juiciest lemon I can find.

What is a cumquat?

Cumquats (Kumquats) are a bright orange citrus fruit. Depending on the variety, they can be oblong or spherical. The skin and the fruit is edible and have a distinctively sour taste to them. On first taste, they will have you screwing up your face for sure. Cumquats are extremely versatile, and whilst this recipe is for cumquat jam, or cumquat marmalade as it is also known, we use them for many different things. Icecream, relishes, chutneys, cakes, biscuits and syrups, they are a wonderful addition to many foods.

How to make cumquat jam

Step 1

This is the most important part of the process, but the most time-consuming. It’s the part where you need to cut the fruit and separate the pith and seeds. The setting agent in this recipe comes from the pith and the seeds, making it critical to get as much of it as you can in order to allow the cumquat jam to set.

Because this fruit is small, it’s easiest to first cut the fruit in half, then in quarters. This way you can then cut the centre pith out without digging around in the fruit.

Tip: If you have a pair of sharp kitchen scissors, these will also make the job a little bit easier. You will still need to cut the cumquats into quarters, but then just cut across the top to get the pith out. It’s easy enough to do it in your hands and not have to put it on a cutting board. The end of the scissors can be used to pick the seed out easily.

Step 2

Put pith and seeds into a bowl and put enough water in just to cover them. There is no exact measurement here. As long as you don’t flood the pith and seeds with water, it will be fine. Place plastic wrap over the top of the bowl and leave overnight. Do not put it in the fridge.

Step 3

Process the remainder of the fruit. Place the remaining fruit into a food processor and puree. This should be quite a thick consistency.

Step 4

Pour the processed fruit into a separate bowl, and also cover with just enough water to coat the fruit. This should also be left overnight on a bench, not in the fridge.

Step 5

This step is all about cooking the jam.

Cook’s tip: Before starting the cooking process, the quantity of fruit needs to be measured, to determine the amount of sugar to be included. Sugar is added on a basis of one cup of sugar to one cup of fruit. To be clear, the fruit is measured after it has been sitting overnight, not the original weight of the fruit in its natural form. Measure out the fruit into cups and make a note of how many cups you have. You will need to match this with the sugar very soon.

Put a saucer in the freezer. This will be used to test the jam later.

Place pith and seeds into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook for 10 minutes. If there is not much water here (ie you’ve been restrained when covering the pith the day before, it is ok to add a little more here, just so your pith and seeds won’t burn).

Strain the liquid into the other bowl of prepared fruit. Use a teaspoon to push the thick liquid through the strainer. You will need all of this as this is what will make your jam set. I move the spoon around and around and push down on the seeds and pith to extract every bit of pectin I can. Add the juice of one lemon to the fruit.

Put all of this (not the seeds) into a saucepan. Heat the fruit for five minutes before adding 1 cup of sugar for every cup of fruit. (see cook’s tip above)

Bring to the boil and keep stirring so it doesn’t stick to the saucepan. Rolling boil for 20 minutes.

After 20 minutes put a drop onto the saucer that you placed into the freezer to see if it will set. Run your finger through the jam on the plate. It should be slightly sticky and set, and maybe wrinkle up as your finger passes through. If it does this, it doesn’t require any further cooking. If it’s runny, keep cooking. Cooking time shouldn’t exceed 30 minutes.

Step 6

Once the jam is ready, allow it to cool slightly before pouring into sterilised bottles (see tips below). Refrigerate.

How to sterilise bottles

When preserving food it is especially important to have sterilised the bottles before adding any food to them. Depending on how much time we have, we use one of the following methods.

Sterilising in the oven

Place the bottles – upside down is best – on baking paper inside a baking tray. Place into an oven at 110 degrees Celsius (230 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes. The lids can be sterilised this way as well, provided there is no plastic inside them. Remove from the oven and use as soon as possible.

Sterilising on the stove

Place a tea towel on the bottom of a large pot and put the bottles on top. This prevents the bottles from moving around once the water starts to circulate. The lids may be added to the pot as well. Bring the water to a boil and leave for 10 minutes before removing them.

Note: Don’t ever put cold bottles into hot or boiling water as they are likely to crack. Warm them up first.

Recipe FAQs and Expert Tips

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How to make old fashioned cumquat jam

Yield: 3 bottles

Prep Time: 2 hours 1 second

Active Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 3 hours 1 second

This old-fashioned cumquat jam recipe is a family one that has been handed down over generations. It takes a bit of time but the end result is a delicious jam.

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Ingredients

• Fresh cumquats (about 500g or 1.1 lb)
• 1 cup sugar per cup of fruit
• Juice of one lemon
• Water

Instructions

1. Cut cumquats into quarters and cut the pith out and remove the seeds.
2. Put pith and seeds into a bowl and cover with just enough water, cover with plastic wrap and leave overnight. Do not put it in the fridge.
3. Place the remaining fruit into a food processor and puree. This should be quite a thick consistency.
4. Pour the processed fruit into a separate bowl, and also cover with just enough water to coat the fruit. This should also be left overnight on a bench, not in the fridge.
5. The next day, the jam can be cooked. Note: Before starting the cooking process, the quantity of fruit needs to be measured, to determine the amount of sugar to be included. Sugar is added on a basis of one cup of sugar to one cup of fruit. To be clear, the fruit is measured after it has been sitting overnight, not the original weight of the fruit in its natural form. Measure out the fruit into cups and make a note of how many cups you have. You will need to match this with the sugar very soon.
6. Put a saucer in the freezer. This will be used to test the jam later.
7. Place pith and seeds into a saucepan and bring to the boil. Cook for 10 minutes. Strain the liquid into the prepared fruit.
8. Add the juice of one lemon to the fruit.
9. Put the fruit (which now includes the juice from the pith, seeds and lemon) into a saucepan. Heat the fruit for five minutes before adding 1 cup of sugar for every cup of fruit. (see Cook's tip above)
10. Bring to the boil and keep stirring so it doesn’t stick to the saucepan. Boil for about 20 to 30 minutes. After 20 minutes put a drop onto the cold saucer and see if it will set. If not, keep cooking and repeat the process. Cooking time shouldn't exceed 30 minutes.
11. Once the jam is ready, allow to cool slightly before pouring into sterilised bottles.

Notes

• It's important to start with fresh cumquats. Having them fresh makes them easier to cut.
• The setting agent in this recipe comes from the pith and the seeds. Because this fruit is small, it's easiest to first cut the fruit in half, then in quarters. This way you can then cut the centre pith out without digging around in the fruit.
• It might seem easier to throw all the seeds in, but take the time to remove them now and it will save time in the end, and give a better end result.
• It's easy to learn how to make cumquat jam and this is an easy cumquat jam recipe.  Just don't let the annoying cutting process stop you from doing it. It makes such beautiful jam that everyone who loves to cook should make it at least once.

Cook's tip: Before starting the cooking process, the quantity of fruit needs to be measured, to determine the amount of sugar to be included. Sugar is added on a basis of one cup of sugar to one cup of fruit. To be clear, the fruit is measured after it has been sitting overnight, not the original weight of the fruit in its natural form.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 48 Serving Size: 25g
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 18Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 0gSugar: 5gProtein: 0g

This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix.

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