More than your usual strawberry jam
Preserves that change with the seasons,
elevating your pantry and adding a unique touch to your meals
At The Little Preservatory, we believe in capturing the essence of nature’s finest flavours each season. Our preserves are crafted with locally grown and foraged ingredients, creating bold, exciting artisanal jams and chutneys, infused oils and savoury ketchups, cordials, compotes and more.
We aim to bring the vibrant taste of the wild into every jar, celebrating the diversity and richness of Suffolk’s bounty. Our flavours are always changing, reflecting what’s in season in Woodbridge and the surrounding area.
Current stockists
Acre Bakery
10 Market Hill, Woodbridge, IP`12 4LU
Wednesday – Friday 8.30am – 5pm, Saturday 8am – 4pm
Beacon Hill Farm Shop
Beacon Hill Farm, Martlesham, IP12 4RP
Tuesday – Friday 9am – 5pm, Saturdays 9am – 12pm
Earsham St. Deli
Snape Maltings & Bungay
Bungay:
Monday – Saturday 9am – 5:30pm
Snape:
Monday – Saturday
10am – 5:30pm, Sunday
10am – 4:30pm
Global Fruits
47 Buttermarket, Ipswich, IP1 1BJ
Monday – Saturday 8.30am – 4.30pm
Murtons Florist
47 Woodbridge Road East, Ipswich, IP4 5ST
Monday – Saturday 8.30am – 4.30pm
Nourish Cafe
Mill Rd, Newbourne, Woodbridge IP12 4NP
Wednesday – Friday 9am – 3pm, Saturday 9am – 1pm, Sunday 9.30am – 12.30pm
Stag & Hare Butchers
8 Hamblin Rd, Woodbridge IP12 1DE
Monday – Saturday 8am – 4.30pm
(Savoury & honey items only)
Upcoming Events
There is no Event
This season:
Preserves to celebrate and sustain
Whether you’re looking for gift ideas, something special for your festive cheeseboard, or you need flavours that will sustain you through the dark winter months, we’ve got something for you, your family and friends.
For cheeseboards we have ale and black treacle pickle, green tomato salsa, apple, fennel and walnut chutney, hot honey and more. You could event try our bell pepper and tomato sauce, equally at home on a cheeseboard as in a pasta dish for a quick and easy dinner.
We haven’t forgotten the cold, dark day of January and February either. Try our elderberry, plum and star anise, and our sloe, juniper and elderflower cordials with hot water for a fruity, uplifting drink at any time of the day. Fig and walnut, and fig, flaked almond and coconut porridge is a great way to start or end the day, especially when you stir in some apple, miso and cinnamon compote, or our quince, pumpkin and citrus compote stirred through. Try our winter berry preserve, or our marrow, pumpkin and ginger preserve on toast, or try our spicy squash chutney with your cheese on toast.
As always, keep an eye on our social media for all our latest creations.
Surplus Swap
If you have surplus fruit, veg, berries, nuts, herbs (really anything… I’m always up for a challenge!) of 1kg or more, I’ll take it off your hands.
In return, you get a share of whatever I make to devour and gift as you wish!*
*For herbs, the minium quantity is 100g. While I will try to meet dietary requirements, in providing your surplus, you also hand over decisions about what is made with your surplus. Quantity returned will depend on quantity made.
Contact me
About Me
Hello! My name is Ellie, and I’m the maker behind The Little Preservatory.
I’m a real foodie, and have always loved to cook all sorts of foods and flavours. I also love to travel, and my (French foodie husband and I take cooking courses wherever we go (most recently Myanmar and Vietnam) in order to join our two passions together.
The Little Preservatory was born in early 2024, a silver lining out of a cloudy time; I suddenly developed insomnia (a hazard of ME/CFS), and needed a calm, mindlful activity to do overnight. Researching unusual recipes, sourcing local ingredients, and stirring pots of bubbling preserves not only served as the ideal insomnia activity, but also started to heal my relationship with food after I lost the ability to eat in 2020.
In fact, in 2022 I had to have a central line put into my chest, the end sitting in the top of my heart, for food, medication and hydration, after I stopped tolerating a feeding tube. I still have and rely on that central line today.
Chronic illness has been a part of my life for a long time. At 22 I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, and since then I’ve had more than a dozen diagnoses of incurable disease, plus deep vein thrombosis, sepsis and thyroid cancer. Despite these disabling conditions that affect almost every aspect of my life, I consider myself incredibly lucky; I grew up here and love living in Suffolk, I have a support system and two great dogs. And I have The Little Preservatory too!
This little endeavour suits me to a T. Not only does it bring joy and creativity back to food, as well as an ability to share food with people again given I can’t share a meal, it is also something I can pick up and put down as needed. Need another surgery? No problem. In an ME flare, I can rest!
I hope that The Little Preservatory can provide as much joy and discovery as I experience through it, and I thank you for supporting an independent, local, disabled-owned business!