Marco Colzani - Basilicata Strawberry Jam (260g)

Marco Colzani trained as an enologist, with stints in Franciacorta, Tuscany and Sicily before he settled in Carate Brianza and started making things from fruit instead of grapes. The project began in 2014 with a single apple juice, originally meant to become cider, made for the family's own pastry shop in nearby Cassago Brianza. From there it grew into a full artisan workshop, now producing chocolate, spreadable creams, juices and jams in around twenty flavours - working with more than 30 partner farms across Italy, from Valtellina to Sicily.

This jam is built from Sabrosa strawberries grown and harvested in Basilicata, at 130g of fruit used per 100g of finished jam - a fruit-forward ratio well above what most commercial jam requires. The strawberries make up 75% of the ingredient list, processed at low temperature and under vacuum to protect their colour and aroma rather than cooked hard and fast the way mass-produced jam typically is. A small amount of citrus pectin sets the texture, keeping the fruit ratio high without needing to reduce the jam down until its flavour flattens out.

Ingredients: Strawberries (75%), sugar, citrus pectin. Three ingredients, no preservatives or added colouring.

The result reads distinctly as strawberry rather than as generic red-fruit sweetness - close to the fruit itself, with a texture that holds soft pieces rather than a smooth, uniform gel.

Best for: Spreading on brioche or toast, spooning over fresh ricotta or yogurt, filling a tart, or serving alongside soft Italian cheeses.