Jam has a legal definition in the UK, meaning it has to have 60% sugars (including fruit sugars). Preserves & conserves have no legal definition but the names seem to carry a certain cachet suggesting a better quality product.
I buy jams because the higher sugar content means the jar will last as long as we need it to, just in the cupboard. Generally, strawberry, raspberry and blackcurrant which get spread on breakfast bread or toast. Raspberry is perfect for the filling in a Victoria sponge cake (my companion in life is the baker of the couple).
If I go to IKEA for something, I usually buy their lingonberry jam which is very sharp and makes a nice addition to, say, a red wine sauce to go with game.
I make my own Seville orange marmalade for the breakfast toast (but it’s good to use in orange sauce to go with duck).
