"Spoonful preserves"/του κουταλιού

Melon and melon peel in clear syrup.

For many centuries sweet fruit and vegetable preserves are a traditional welcome treat for visitors in Eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East,the Balkans and even Russia.

In Greece it was always a delicious way to fill the cupboards with jars of fruits and have them through the winter. The difference from marmalade is that in preserves fruits are either whole or in large pieces "swimming" in clear sugar syrup, not mashed.
Strawberries and other soft fleshed fruits are not preferred for preserve. It takes special skill to make a strawberry preserve and keep each fruit whole and crunchy.

Young green figs as "spoonful sweets".

It is really rare to find a Greek woman who doesn't know how to make what we call ""spoonful sweets". 
I have to confess I am one of the very rare exceptions *lowers her head in shame*
I've never had the courage to peel and prepare and boil and reboil the fruits in large pots and make the syrup and what if it doesn't thicken properly?,then reboil it the next day... (cba tbh)

King of sweet preserves, orange peels...wait!!Janet!Come back!! ;P

Everything can be made into a sweet preserve. Most beloved are orange and lemon -peels included-bergamot peel,unripened figs,cherries,watermelon peels,grapes and quince. There are also some rare ones like tomato,eggplant,lemon blossoms,unripened nuts,unripened chestnuts even olives (never tried it but I know it exists)

Up till today,most Greek housewives have some jars with preserves,either handmade by them or by mother/aunt/cousin to serve an unexpected visitor.(when the visitor is expected,they cook for days ahead ofc!) Traditionally,the preserves are served on a nice tray-preferably silver-with a white lace or linen. In the middle there is a crystal bowl with the preserve and all around small silver spoons and small glass plates.

The lady of the house goes around to each visitor,he/she takes a spoonful of the preserve in their plate.Of course there should be lots of nice really cool water and strong coffee ,which the Turks call Turkish coffee,Greeks call it Greek coffee and which is originally ARABIC coffee (and who cares, as long as it is aromatic and delicious :])