We rented three areas down in the Boli valley below the farm at Mulu. The areas we rented were called Biddu, Marco and Gulli.
Biddu was the first one you reached as you came down the steep pathway The next was Marco and the final one was called Gulli. We grew coffee plants in all three areas. The coffee grew well, and we once won the prize for the best coffee grown in Ethiopia.
We tried to grow oranges at Biddu. They grew very well but when we picked the ripe ones, we discovered that they were NOT eating oranges but sour ones, so we tried making marmalade and they were perfect for that. I think they must have been Seville oranges which are the ones you make marmalade with. So we made lots of marmalade and sold it in Addis Ababa and a lot of people bought it.
I make marmalade here in Hemyock and always use Seville oranges. You can get them in December as they are imported from Spain.
I must tell you why it is called marmalade. Way back in history Mary Queen of the Scots always had them imported from Spain to make marmalade with. Marmalade’s origins come from the French words – Marie mallad. (Mary unwell). So next time you have marmalade to put on your toast at breakfast time, just remember to say thank you to Mary Queen of Scots who live several hundred years ago.