Discover The Difference Between Marmalade Vs Marmelada

We all love eating jam and jellies, and they are an ancient way of preserving fruits that has become widely popular all over the world. These preserves are mainly enjoyed as a spread on toast and sandwiches. Prepared with sugar, both of them are sweet and delicious. Marmalade and marmelada are other fruit preserves that are loved by all. Wait, what? Did you think both of them were the same? Although they appear to be very similar, they are completely different.  

What Is Marmalade?

This is a citrus fruit preserve that traditionally has the flavours of oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits. It is made with citrus fruits, sugar, and water. For preparing marmalade, the fruits are sliced, keeping the peel intact for the zest and their distinctive bitterness. Then the fruit is simmered in water containing sugar until it reaches a chunky and gel-like texture.

Marmalade has a bold and zesty flavour and is very popular for breakfast and tea in British and Irish cuisines. It has a tangy and slightly bitter taste and is mainly enjoyed with toast, scones, and glazes for meats like ham. 

What Is Marmelada?


On the other hand, Marmelada belongs to the land of Portugal. This fruit preserve is primarily made from quinces, an aromatic, golden-yellow fruit that has an astringent, sour taste. This fruit is peeled, cored, and simmered with sugar until it turns into a thick, amber-coloured paste.

The process of making marmelada includes slow-cooking the fruit puree with sugar that gently transforms it into a thick and sweet spread. This Portuguese spread has an enchanting floral aroma and a slightly grainy texture. Traditionally, it is served as a dessert or snack by slicing it into squares or wedges. Marmelada is often paired with cheese (particularly sheep's milk cheese).

The Top 5 Differences Between Marmalade And Marmelada

  • Ingredients: While marmalade uses citrus fruits like orange, lime, and grapefruit along with their peels, marmelada is prepared with quinces without the peels of the fruit.
  • Texture: Talking about the texture, marmalade is spreadable yet chunky due to the presence of peels, while marmelada has a dense and smooth consistency and can be cut with a knife into squares, triangles, or the desired shape. 
  • Flavours: When it comes to flavours, marmalade is known for its citrusy, tart, and slightly bitter flavour, whereas marmalade has a sweet, floral taste with a slight graininess.
  • Culinary Uses: Marmalade is a well-known spread in British and Irish breakfasts and is commonly enjoyed with toasts, scones, and pastries, while marmelada is enjoyed with desserts, cheese, or bread.
  • For Storing: Marmalade is sold in jars, and once you open them, keep the jar in the refrigerator. On the other hand, marmelada is available in blocks, and the best way to store it is by wrapping the preserve in fresh parchment paper and then keeping it in the fridge.

So, if you are bored of your regular jams, spreads, and jellies, try these two special fruit preserves for your sandwiches and snacks. You can also experiment with them by adding them to your cakes, chicken wings, shrimp, BBQ sauce, ice cream, chicken curry, bars, and puddings.