Open the jar and it’s dark, glossy and softly set, and the aroma burst of sharp lime. Soft dates slow cooked with fresh lime, vinegar and chilli until everything melts into a spoonable chutney. The dates bring a deep, almost treacly sweetness, the lime cuts straight back through it, the vinegar sharpens the edges, and a gentle chilli warmth lifts the finish. Cardamom, clove, nutmeg and cinnamon hum quietly underneath, with garlic and ginger rounding it out. It’s sweet, then sharp, then a mild, warming kick.

This is a jar for far more than the curry table. Whisk a spoonful with a little oil for an instant salad dressing, sweet, sharp and spiced all at once, spoon it over a sharp cheddar, fold it into a wrap, or serve it beside cold cuts and cheese. It lifts a bowl of rice and curry the way a squeeze of lime does elsewhere.

We make it in small batches in Sri Lanka, a way of capturing the seasonal lime harvest and holding onto it long after the fruit is gone. Every jar is made, filled and labelled in Sri Lanka, made lovingly by the women in our factories.