Short history of jams

Jam was originally made in the ancient days probably to preserve certain foodstuffs.

One of the earliest descriptions - very much like a jam recipe - can be found in Pliny's " Natural History ", dating from the first century A.D. Later on, in the fourth century, the agronomist Palladius gives us a couple of short recipes for fruit candied in honey.

By the 14^th century, these first approximate recipes have become more sophisticated : quinces, almonds, pears, but also carrots are being used.

In the 15th century, a book called " How to make all sorts of jams " gives us a great number of recipes. The book was written by a certain Michel de NOSTRE-DAME, better known to us under the name of Nostradamus...

Subsequently, in the 17^th and 18^th centuries, the range and variety of jams became considerably larger : thanks to the discovery of faraway lands and the establishment of colonial trading posts in many regions of the world, exotic fruits found their way to Europe.

In the 19^th century jam making was without doubt at its height. Indeed, the price of fruit had become reasonable, the technical means accessible, and a lot of people - in the town as well as in the country - made the most of these advantages.

Nowadays, the industrialized means of production have made it possible to manufacture large amounts of jam, which has brought a certain standardization. At the same time, there is more and more demand for different, more sophisticated and imaginative jams.