Love in a jar: cooking up a recipe for success
From jams to chutneys and fruit pastes, the Love in a jar range is diverse and expansive.
Gippsland boasts some amazing providores, well-stocked with colourful and flavoursome preserves. One brand that you’ll likely see adorning the shelves is Love in a jar, made locally by a small but passionate team.
Food is at the heart of many of our core memories, which is undoubtedly true for Rosalie Green.
Some of her earliest recollections are of her grandmother, Nelly-Jean, making jams, chutneys, and preserves.
"She would always add a bit of her homemade plum jam to her gravy, saying she was giving the gravy a ‘bit of love’," explained Rosalie, whose Gippsland business is named Love in a jar in memory of her grandmother.
When she founded her jam and chutney business six years ago, Rosalie initially had two outlets stocking her preserves. At last count, that figure was 43.
Beginning in her home kitchen, Rosalie worked solo until she accepted a Christmas hamper order for 3,500 jars of product, with twenty days' notice. Long-time friend Tash joined Rosalie to complete the mammoth task. The pair met 18 years ago when nursing together; and as luck would have it, they also shared a love of good food.
Fast-forward to 2023, where you could safely say that Love in a jar has created a recipe for success.
As Rosalie and Tash cook together, the kitchen is filled with music and laughter. Rosalie has utilised some of her grandmother's recipes, introducing them to her ever-expanding range. She’s committed to sourcing the best produce, spices and other key ingredients for her jams, pickles and chutneys.
Rosalie says much of the jam-making process is about cooking by feel and instinct.
"It’s less about timing. We're watching for changes in the bubbles and seeing how the jam comes off the ladle to know if it's ready."
With the rapid growth, it became apparent to Rosalie that she needed to find a commercial cooking space to increase the efficiency of her production. Over the past six years since the business first began, Love in a jar has grown steadily and the popular preserves are now available online or from retailers and cafes across the region. The colourful range of preserves feature in hampers and can be purchased in catering sizes as required.
Rosalie's motto, “Made with love, for you to love,” is central to her business values. The selection has widened as she and Tash test new recipes, with the addition of a “gold” range of short-run exotic fruit combinations bringing new flavour experiences to loyal customers.
The Love in a jar team, L to R: Rosalie, Kade and Tash.
With continued business growth, Rosalie has recently welcomed a new employee. Kade assists on cooking days, with the heavy work now shared among three instead of two.
When asked to name their favourite preserve, the Love in a jar trio struggle to narrow down their choice to a single product. Although joining the team just a few weeks ago, Kade has already found he enjoys the Mango Chilli Chutney on his salad sandwiches; Tash loves the Cap Chilli Relish on a lamb and halloumi burger; and Rosalie enjoys her Rhubarb and Vanilla Jam on a croissant.
In addition to the weekly preserve-making days, Rosalie and Tash continue to work in their profession of nursing, both within part-time positions. Rosalie has spent the past few years teaching nurses locally, sharing her vast experience and skills with the next generation of healthcare professionals in Gippsland.
For Love in a jar stockists, or to purchase products online, visit https://loveinajar.shop/
Love in a jar is a Food & Fibre Gippsland member. If you’d like to know more about our memberships, visit https://www.foodandfibregippsland.com.au/join or send us a message: info@foodandfibregippsland.com.au.
