La Orange jam it is often the protagonist of our breakfasts. «The ideal is consume it with wholemeal bread which, being rich in fiber, balances the richness of simple sugars », advises the dietician Diana Scatozza.
«From a nutritional point of view its weak point is sweetness: for our health it is good that it is not excessive. This is why, in drawing up my ranking, I placed at the top the most "bitter" products».
The dose of citrus makes the difference
«I too preferred the jams with less sugar (or apple juice or grape juice) and with more fruit ”, says food technologist Giorgio Donegani.
"The dose of citrus fruits varied from a minimum of 20 g to a maximum of 140 g to obtain 100 g of product and I have always tried to reward those who used larger quantities (even better if di organic origin). Instead, I penalized the jams obtained with the addition of water (because good oranges are already sufficiently "liquid").
As for the presence of pectin, it should be noted that it does not affect the nutritional value and safety of the product in the least: it is a natural fiber that is used to regulate the consistency. In this regard I want to clarify that the jam must be thick enough, but not too gelatinous or slimy (negative characteristics).
In short, it must be distinguished from a compote, which is characterized by a creaminess due to the presence of a greater part of fruit. Finally, with regard to the flavor, I evaluated that it was intense and natural (qualities that were worth a "plus") and that the aroma of orange felt good and was not covered by the sweetness of sugar ».
THE 4 BEST ORANGE JAMS:
Bio Fruit More: € 3,99 the 230 g jar (€ 17,35 / kg).
The strong point. It has very few calories.
This compote contains 140g of oranges per 100g of finished product, which is more than all the other products in the test. As a sweetener there is only an addition of grape sugar. The ingredients are all organic. The product has a particular aspect: clear, creamy, very natural. The consistency is fluid also due to the lack of pectin and the pieces of chopped peel are well perceived in the mouth. The taste is intense, but decidedly bitter. The price is justified by the quantity of oranges used.
In 100 g: 29 g of carbohydrates (all sugars), 125,4 calories.
Sicilsole Farm. Organic Sicilian bitter orange marmalade: € 3,49 the 370 g jar (€ 9,43 / kg).
The strong point. The ingredients are organic.
45 g of fruit are used per 100 g of product and the first ingredient is cane sugar. Contains pectin and citric acid as an acidifier. The ingredients are organic. The jam is quite light yellow in color. Inside the gelatinous matrix you can see the pieces of the peel. In the mouth the texture appears a little too thick, but the taste is decidedly pleasant, with the oranges feeling good and the sugar just making the taste more pleasant without covering the citrus aroma.
In 100 g: 60 g of carbohydrates (of which 10 g sugars), 245 calories.
Free Earth. Sicilian blood orange marmalade IGP Bio: € 3,89 the 270 g jar (€ 14,40 / kg).
The strong point. It is made with Igp oranges.
This jam is obtained with 55 g of fruit per 100 g of product. The second ingredient after the blood orange of Sicily IGP is cane sugar. There is pectin. The ingredients are organic. The product is attractive, amber orange in color, with evident pieces of the skins. The consistency is adequate. The taste is intense and natural, with the sweet note of sugar that balances the bitter note of orange well. On the ethical and social level, it should also be pointed out that Libera Terra manages land and structures confiscated from the mafias.
In 100 g: 60 g of sugars (of which 58 g sugars), 252 calories.
Lands of the country. Sicilian orange marmalade: € 2,99 the 340 g jar (€ 8,80 / kg).
The strong point. The dose of citrus.
It is high.Oranges are the first ingredient, followed by sugar and pectin. The fruit used is 80 g per 100 g of product. However, the ingredients are not organic. The product is well presented, of an orange yellow not too dark and not too light, with the pieces of the peel clearly evident, not too big. When tasted, the consistency is satisfactory, with the pieces of fruit that are felt, without however disturbing. The taste is intense, but the sugar mitigates the bitter sensation of oranges well.
In 100 g: 59 g of carbohydrates (all sugars), 239 calories.
OUR LAB: Dr. Giorgio Donegani, food technologist in Sesto San Giovanni (Milan); Dr. Diana Scatozza, specialist in Food Science in Milan.

