Jam sockets: what are there and how to choose?

Berry and fruit jam has long been a popular dessert among the East Slavic peoples, the inhabitants of the Baltic States and the population of the Transcaucasus. For a beautiful presentation of this sweet food on the table, there is a special small saucer called a rosette. Before the start of the feast, it is customary to serve the jam in a special vase, and then transfer it to small rosettes with an elegant curly spoon. Now on sale there are saucers for jam, very diverse in shape and size.

Jam sockets most often have a classic shape. It means saucers made in the form of round bowls or saucers of a square or rectangular shape with rounded corners. But, in addition to this standard look, you can find this dish, for example, in the form of an open flower bud. Elegant and multifunctional saucers that look like the open doors of a sea shell. At the celebration, rosettes in the form of small crystal goblets are very appropriate and effective.

The most common bases for the production of this type of tableware are porcelain, crystal, glass and plastic. Each of them has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages.

Such rosettes for jam are elegant and durable, they retain the taste of the product and all the vitamins, since they do not form oxides. It is recommended to wash them with non-hot water without the use of chemicals. Saucer can be made from different types of porcelain using different technologies.

For example, underglaze cobalt is applied to dishes with bright painting. The rosettes, which have a blue-white ornament, are made using cobalt oxide, which takes on rich hues at high temperatures.

The delicate pink porcelain jam saucers are made by firing a pale red dye. For monochrome options, yellow, green and blue shades are most often used.

Jam saucers made from this material have an exquisite appearance. They beautifully refract light in their edges, are transparent and emit a pleasant melodic ringing when you touch their walls with a spoon. In addition to jam, caviar, honey, and jams look very impressive in such outlets on the festive table.

But it should be remembered that crystal glassware requires delicate care, and special products must be used to add shine.

As a result of the use of new production technologies, modern glassware has become durable and heat-resistant, it can be washed with chemical detergents. Glass sockets are inexpensive and practical, they do not absorb foreign odors.

Jam sockets made of food grade plastic are not harmful to human health if they are not labeled melamin. This chemical contains the deadly formaldehyde. Plastic dishes are popular due to their low cost. These outlets are practical and easy to clean. It is convenient to take disposable plastic saucers with you out of town for a picnic or travel.

The sockets can be part of the tea set or sold by the piece. There are also sets of jam saucers that are designed for normal everyday use or serving on the holiday table. The former look simpler and more modest, while the latter are spectacular and sophisticated.

As a rule, a set includes from 2 to 12 (sometimes 19) outlets of the same or different volume. In expensive kits, there are small spoons for each saucer.

The most famous brands producing jam rosettes are several companies.

• Lefard. This Chinese brand is in great demand among connoisseurs of white bone china and is the world's largest manufacturer of china. Rosettes of the Lefard England Collection brand are produced for both everyday life and festive receptions. The saucers are decorated with graceful images of animals and floral ornaments. They can be sold with or without spoons, in sets or separately.

• Thun. Czech porcelain is always a high quality tableware: it is light, thin, has a noble whiteness, and is environmentally friendly. In addition, the sockets of this company are characterized by a variety of shapes and sizes.

• Noritake. This world-renowned Japanese brand produces milky white bone china with an original design. Jam rosettes, like all tableware of this brand, are decorated with exquisite paintings by talented Japanese artists.

• Crystalite bohemia... A well-known company from the Czech Republic, which is a manufacturer of glass and crystal tableware. Outlets of this brand are characterized by excellent quality, increased durability, they can be washed in a dishwasher. All dishes of this brand are made from a safe material - crystallite.

• Isfahan Glass. This is an Iranian glassware made of borosilicate glass. At first glance, it differs little from crystal products. Jam rosettes have a stable bottom, are transparent, and refract light beautifully. In addition, they are sold individually in colorful packaging.

In order to choose high-quality and safe sockets for jam, use the advice of experts.

• Think carefully about what kind of saucers you need: for daily use or for special occasions. Ideally, you should have both.
• Buy a set of outlets that will harmoniously fit into your interior.
• White or beige crockery is classic and suitable for any setting.
• Inspect the outlets carefully for chips, cracks or other defects.
• Painted saucers should have a clear, unlubricated pattern.
• Be sure to ask the seller to show a certificate for the product to be sure that the dishes are safe.

See the next video for the secrets of making beautiful and tasty jam.