As a Yorkshire lass myself I suppose I have a bias – but when Elspeth Biltoft, the founder of Rosebud Preserves talks of the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales, old-fashioned preserves recipes, traditional fruits like greengages, quince and rowanberry, and gathering so many elderflowers (only those at the peak of bloom are good enough) that your arms ache and your head is swimming with the perfume, I’m a captive audience.

With Elspeth’s passion for the best quality, wild-gathered and natural seasonal products, combined with Rosebud Preserves chef John Barley’s scientific and innovative approach to achieving perfect products, this partnership is a ‘recipe’ for success. Yorkshire born and bred (she recalls being carried on her father’s shoulders through the Dales as a child) Elspeth has also built collaborations with local farmers and small producers to get the very best of everything.

Her jams and jellies use simple balanced recipes, with no additives, preservatives or even pectin – setting is achieved from the fruit alone, skilful cooking and unrefined cane sugar, which adds a delicious hint of molasses. They make their own top quality vinegar for the preserves, the fruit and cider for the Bramley Apple And Cider Sauce are sourced from the monks at Ampleforth Abbey and they collaborate with The Spirit of Masham Distillery for their rather special Elderflower Gin Liquer. Just removing the cork releases the heady aroma of wild elderflower, transporting you to a shady spot under a hedgerow of elders in the Dales.

I was particularly excited to try the Greengage Fruit Cheese. The very firm jelly with the intense flavour of those old-fashioned plums is a new twist on the Spanish ‘membrillo’ (quince paste) and is just perfect with a good cheese. The allspice and cinnamon in the Spice Plum Chutney really took me back to my childhood and mum’s cooking, however their mince pies – Almond And Orange Mincemeat encased in amazing pastry from Two Dales Bakery of Reeth are a real step-up from traditional mince pies. The mincemeat is made without suet and the ground almond and orange provide an irresistible light sweetness.

So if you are in need of a treat or you’re looking for a special gift, do check out their individual jars and bottles but also the gift sets at https://rosebudpreserves.co.uk. The mince pies won’t be available until November, but you don’t need to wait to try the mincemeat – apparently it goes very well with ice cream.

By Dr K Thompson, award-winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

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Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.