Intro: This small town in the depths of Berry is in turmoil: the traditional jam competition has degenerated into a bitter dispute.
Deep in Berry, summer is usually synonymous with tranquility and fruit harvests. But this year, Petit Veauville is ready to burst like an overripe blackberry. The heart of the conflict? A deep discord, a parish-pump quarrel to say the least: the authentic recipe for a Ente plum jam.
Indeed, the annual jam competition, which is the pride of this village of 200 souls, has degenerated into a pitched battle between two clans, the Pro-rosemary and the Anti-rosemary. According to the Pro-rosemary, adding a sprig of rosemary during cooking would enhance the taste of the plums, while for the Anti-rosemary, it completely spoils the final product.
“I don’t understand where they get this barbaric idea. Rosemary in plum jam is like putting ketchup on Camembert!” exclaims Georgette, 78, a member of the Jury and a convinced Anti-rosemary.
Although this conflict is a source of discord, it also has a beneficial side. Many curious onlookers and journalists have come specifically to Petit Veauville to witness this colorful dispute. “This is a first in our records. I hope that next year we can return to a more serene competition. In the meantime, I must admit that it is making our small village and our delicious jams talked about,” admits the mayor, who refused to take sides, preferring to declare himself “Pro-chocolatine”, referring to another famous culinary war.
The competition is due to end on Sunday, and even though the jury remains divided on the rosemary issue, one thing is certain, Petit Veauville’s Ente plum jam is not done making a name for itself.
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