Creating the first Jam: Damm Jamm

I’ve always loved the idea of making jam, but it wasn’t until I found myself surrounded by ripe, juicy plums from the trees at Cromer Farm that I decided to try it. The process was new to me, but with a little research and a lot of excitement, I made my first batch of damson plum jam—and it was easier (and tastier!) than I ever imagined.

It all started when the plum trees at the farm were overflowing with fruit, and I was faced with the delightful challenge of what to do with them. I headed out to the trees on a sunny morning, armed with baskets. The trees were bursting with plump, deep purple damson plums. I carefully picked the ripest ones, enjoying the process of gathering fruit straight from the source.

Once back in the kitchen, the real work began. I washed the plums thoroughly, making sure they were free of dirt and leaves. Then came the slightly tedious task of pitting them. If you’ve ever pitted plums, you know it can get messy, and please always wear gloves for this bit or your hands will be stained. 

Now for the fun part—actually making the jam. I like to use simple high quality ingredients, so I added lemons and sugar to the plums. Now because I wanted a  jam to go on a cheese platter I decided to add a few spices to the mixture. A touch of warming cardamom, cinnamon, star anise and cloves.

While the jam cooked, I sterilised the jars. This step is critical to ensuring your jam stays fresh for months, so I was careful to clean the jars thoroughly and place them in the oven to sterilise. After dropping a spoonful onto a cold plate and seeing it wrinkle slightly when pushed, I knew it was ready.

After all the hard work and waiting, the moment of truth finally arrived—the taste test! I spread the freshly made plum jam on a slice of warm toast, and it was everything I’d hoped for. The sweet-tart flavour of the plums, balanced with just the right amount of sugar and a hint of brightness from the lemon, was absolutely delicious. I was proud that my first attempt at jam-making had turned out so well. It was named the Damm Jamm and it was labeled and decorated ready for everyone to enjoy!