Kumquat Jam

Makes 4 jars of 500ml
Preparation: 30 minutes
Cooking: 45 minutes

Ingredients
1kg kumquats (not overripe)
1kg sugar
2litres water (8 cups)
20ml (4 teaspoons) lemon juice

Method
1. Place kumquats in a saucepan and cover with boiling water. When cool, drain off the water and pour over more boiling water.
2. Drain once more, remove fruit and cut a cross in the bottom of each fruit. Place in boiling water and boil until just tender – about 15 minutes. Test for tenderness by piercing with a matchstick.
3. Drain, then squeeze the pips from the fruit – in doing so you will also remove some of the excess water.
4. Syrup: Bring the sugar and 8 cups water and lemon juice to the boil.
5. Add kumquats and boil for 45 minutes, or until fruit is translucent and syrup thick and reduced by almost half.
6. Pack fruit into hot, sterilized jars, fill with syrup and seal.