“Can you tell me why my latest pottle of jam I purchased is a different consistency than usual?”

We aim to always make the best jam in the market but making traditional jam can be quite tricky (as all home preservers know well). Because we never include any additives such as pectin, we can only adjust the time/temperature and the quality and provenance of the fruit.  If we boil a bit too long we get sweet sticky jam.  If we boil too little we get runny jam.  If the apricots are over-ripe or under-ripe we get no structure through to lots of structure, but the flavour isn’t so good.  Naturally occurring fruit pectin also varies over the year and achieving an even consistency can be very challenging at times. Please rest assured that all our jams are quality tested before they are released to the market.

“I opened my jam to find mould on top?”

As we don’t add preservatives to our jams, it is sometimes possible for mould to grow after opening. We recommend that you store your jams in the fridge and always use a clean spoon or knife. To reduce the risk of mould developing, Anathoth products are heated to over 100 oC during processing and packed above 70 oC in a clean air environment. The lid is pressed onto the pottle immediately after filling, while the product is hot. When the lid is sealed, the centre is pushed down to make sure as much air as possible comes out from inside the pottle as it closes. The pottle is then tipped upside down to let the product heat the lid from the inside for longer shelf life.

“I find your pottles difficult to open. Can you give me any tips?”

Here are a couple of tips that might be helpful:

• the tamper evident tab should easily break off – you can snip off the tag with a pair of kitchen scissors
• the watertight seal is firm (to prevent spills in the fridge) and we suggest using the tip of a teaspoon to gently lever the lid off
• after use, just press down on the centre of the lid to expel any air and reseal it
• the pottle is very handy for re-using in the home and we are proud that it is BPA free, microwaveable and freezer safe
• the pottle and lid can be recycled

”Why has some of the sugar crystallised in my Anathoth jam”

Our products are made using real fruit and are popular because they are made to the traditional home-style recipe – just fruit and sugar boiled together. Absolutely no additives. While the appearance of sugar crystals can occur occasionally, this is rare. Interestingly, it is a problem associated with home-style jam making that even the best home-preserver can encounter. Some of our customers have also noticed that if their jam is left in hot environment (eg. on the bench in the sun) it can sometimes crystallize upon cooling in a non-controlled manner (ie without stirring), much in the same way as ice-cream resets. 

“When was Anathoth started?”

• Anathoth was founded in 1987 by a family who had purchased a rundown raspberry farm in Nelson. They grew their own raspberries on the farm and started selling raspberry jam in the Saturday Markets in Nelson. They were so popular that they sold out every weekend.

“How do you pronounce the word Anathoth?”

• We believe the correct pronounciation is “Ah-na-tot”, but you can say it anyway you like!

“Who owns Anathoth now?”

• Anathoth joined Barker’s of Geraldine in 2007 and our products are now made in Geraldine. Anathoth customers can continue to enjoy their favourite home grown jams and pickles knowing that they are safe in the hands of a long established and well respected family business, located deep in the heart of the southern countryside.

“Who is Barker’s?”

• Barker’s is New Zealand’s leading producer of premium jams, chutneys and blackcurrant juice syrups. Barker’s was found in 1969 by Anthony Barker and is still a family owned business. Anthony Barker’s son Michael is the Managing Director.

“Anathoth jams have a unique flavour. Are they still being made the same traditional way?”

• Anathoth still uses the traditional recipe of just fruit and sugar, boiled until it sets - the same recipe found in home cookery books and used by our Mothers and Grandmothers.  With no additives, Anathoth jam really does taste just like homemade.

“Does Anathoth buy New Zealand fruit?"

• Yes. At Anathoth we proudly support local growers and purchase New Zealand fruit first and foremost. If there is a shortage and we have supplemented with fruit from other countries, we always tell you. Just check our jam labels to find out where our fruit has come from. When we purchase international fruit we do so in a global marketplace under strict quality assurance criteria and only through approved, reputable trading houses.
• During the harvest season, we buy over 1,000 tonnes of New Zealand fruit. This includes Central Otago apricots and plums, as well as blackcurrants, boysenberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and other fruits from dozens of growers in Canterbury, Otago, Nelson, Marlborough, Horowhenua, Waikato, Gisborne, Bay of Plenty, and Auckland.

“How many products does Anathoth make?”

• We make a total of 23 products (Jams, Marmalades, Chutneys, Pickles and Relishes).

“How many Anathoth products are Gluten-Free?”

• We’re delighted to confirm that all our products are gluten free.

“Do Anathoth products contain preservative?”

• None of our products contain preservative, artificial colouring or artificial flavouring.

“How do you get ideas for new products?”

• Our products are customer-driven. We get ideas and recipes from our customers.

"Are Anathoth products available in Australia?"

• Yes, 8 of our most popular jam flavours are now available in Australia: Apricot, Boysenberry, Cherry Berry, Raspberry, Strawberry, Three Berry, Rhubarb & Red Berry and Breakfast Marmalade. You'll find a selection of them at your local Woolworths and Coles. Our two most popular pickles and relishes: Farmstyle Pickle and Tomato Relish are available in Coles. Our jams can also be found in selected independent grocery stores nationwide. New Product Releases: We're delighted to let our Anathoth Australian fans know that we have just created two delicious new products….Anathoth Lemon Curd (available at both Coles and Woolworths) and Anathoth Passionfruit Curd (available only at Woolworths).

"Can Anathoth pottles be recycled?”

• Yes, Anathoth pottles (Grade 5) and their lids (Grade 4) can be recycled.  We have just checked and can confirm that as at August 2009, there are 27 Councils in New Zealand that offer this service. Click here for a list of Councils….
• It’s interesting to note that while there are more Councils offering recycling for Grades 1 and 2 plastics, we choose to use Grade 5 Polypropylene plastic (PP) for several reasons. One is that PET plastics (Grade 1) are somewhat controversial due to chemical additives leaching out and are not suitable for hot filling preserves, as we do.
• We believe that recycling, where practicable, is a great option for our environment and we hope to see more Councils offering greater recycling options in the future.