Great Balaton jam tour - jam specialities you must taste

We've gathered Balaton jam makers whose offerings include the classic flavours of grandma's buttered jam bread, along with new flavour combinations you might not have imagined before!

Kapolcsikum Estate carefully cultivates its orchards on an area of over 7 acres. Their motto is "Summer in a Bottle" because they can offer their jams and syrups fresh all year round thanks to their freezing technique, which keeps the fruit fresh right up to the moment of processing. You'll find some real classics on their shelves: the essential peach and blueberry jam, blackberry- and raspberry jam, but for those who want more extreme flavour combinations, there's also dark chocolate cherry jam, for example. They have products for diabetics and dieters, for example, the diabetic cherry jam sweetened with xylitol and stevia.

Mamka Jam is a real family farm, their story is framed by the love of the garden: no chemicals are used in the garden’s cultivation and no preservatives are used in the canning process. Mamka jams include the big favourites such as plum or strawberry jam but there are also some extreme combinations you may not have heard of, such as zucchini jam with lemon and ginger, beetroot jam with chocolate, or even a medlar jam. Gourmets can expect constantly renewed specialities, so it's worth monitoring them all year round! Besides jams, they have a remarkable range of syrups and vinegar, with unique products such as fennel syrup or lavender and violet vinegar.

Respect for traditional processes is also a key principle at Zsusska: naturalness is key, no preservatives, additives, colours or flavours, just juicy fruits. The emphasis is on really special flavours, although there are classic peach jams on the shelf, the actual stars are unique jams such as plum jam with sage jam, fig jam with chilli, apple jam with mango or poppy seed jam. Besides jams, you should also try the compotes: there are quince and green walnut on offer. They also have products in the free category: they have everything-free apricot and plum jams, sour cherry jams and even vanilla peach jam!

The products made by Jam Season are all made in small amounts, using traditional handcrafted methods: they believe in tradition and a commitment to true artisan jam specialities. Flavour pairings play a big role in their jams, and you should try the apple and elderflower or blackberry and plum combinations. Those who prefer traditional flavours will also find classics to suit their tastes. And for those avoiding sugar, they have a range of diabetic (sugar and sweetener-free) products.

Lavender Tihany does not only make jam, everything is based on the famous lavender of the village: they also have lavender soaps, syrups and coffees in their repertoire. But in the agony of choice, lavender jams should not be overlooked. Lavender is a great pairing with classic flavours, you should try the lavender peach and strawberry jams, and gourmets should also try the lavender jelly, which is a must-have for desserts, but also a perfect accompaniment to meat dishes. The sugar-free options include lavender-blackcurrant, sour cherry, raspberry and plum jams.