Jam is generally eaten with something else, compote can be eaten on its own or be a "base" e.g. you'd spread jam on bread but you'd eat compote with a spoon. Compotes are jams but in effect closer to mashes.
Thanks, I didn't know that. The distinction does not exist in portuguese (my native language). The word for jam is "compota", and I don't know of any portuguese sweet like what you describe as compote.
humm i think actually in portuguese we have: doce, compota, geleia, conserva e marmelada/goiabada.
doce (sweet) is a sugar syrup with fruits normally mashed, this is not preserve this is made to be served.
compota (jam) is mashed whole fruits with sugar (pure de frutos).
geleia (jelly) is fruit juice jellied or thicken.
conserva (preserve/compote) is whole fruits preserved in a sugary syrup.
marmelada/goiabada is the same as a compota whit a mashed whole fruits with sugar, but since these 2 fruits create a thick jellied paste, we give it a proper name.
sot he is talking about is a conserva/preserve/compote is all the same thing, its a whole fruits you cant spread that, its for eating or making other things like cakes and such and Portugal has plenty of those as well hehehe :D
