Life is too short to keep eating that overly-sweet grape jelly laden with high fructose corn syrup and preservatives. There are so many better options out there — for instance, our Amish jams and jellies! If you don’t remember the last time you tried a homemade jam or jelly that was made using a family recipe and designed to preserve the fresh flavor of real fruit, you’re in for a treat! Our jams and jellies will make you wonder how you ever got along all this time without them.
In today’s blog from Mt. Pleasant Produce in Honey Brook, we’re giving you several good reasons why you should try our Amish jams and jellies, and we’re sure that once you try them, you won’t need convincing to buy them again. Keep reading, and if you’re reading to start shopping, please visit our website.
What’s The Difference Between Jam and Jelly?
One question that many people have is, “What’s the difference between jam and jelly?” Many people use the terms interchangeably, but there is a difference when it comes to how the product is made. Jams are made from the pulp of the fruit. It can be chopped, crushed, or pureed, and also include the juice. Jelly is a clear fruit spread made from just the juices of the fruit, sugar, and a thickening agent. At Mt. Pleasant Produce, we use pectin.
You may also see jars labeled as fruit preserves and fruit spreads. When the term preserves is used, it means that the whole fruit was used, and you often find large pieces of fruit in it. Spreads, on the other hand, have no official definition, although this term is usually used to refer to a product made from all fruit and no added refined sugar. It can be sweetened with fruit juice, however.
We think our products are delicious and the quality speaks for itself. But, if you’re still not sure about trying them, here are a few good reasons why you should.
You Don’t Have Time to Make it Yourself
A century ago, most households had homemade jam or jelly in their pantry or cellar, but now, people are just too busy. If you’re like most people and don’t have time to pick fresh fruit, cook it, and can it, then it's nice to know that you can still get it already made and ready to enjoy. We use time-tested family recipes that showcase the true flavor of the fruit, and when you order some, you’ll be able to appreciate the difference for yourself.
Simple Ingredients
Jellies and jams are a convenient way to enjoy the flavor of fresh fruit all year round. So how does it make you feel to know that many jams and jellies use ingredients like sodium citrate and sodium benzoate for preservatives? The canning process will preserve the fruit perfectly without these preservatives and that’s why at Mt. Pleasant Produce, we choose to use the fewest ingredients possible — fruit, sugar, water, and pectin. Sometimes we also add a dash of lemon juice, but that’s it! We find that it's the best way to make jam or jelly so you can truly enjoy the flavor of the fruit.
Fruit Picked at Its Peak
Many big jam and jelly companies receive huge quantities of fruit that are shipped to them from farms near and far. Oftentimes they have to sit around in a warehouse until they’re ready to be processed. This means that fruit may be under-ripe when picked and overripe when used.
For the best flavor and highest quality jam, you have to pick your fruit at the peak of freshness and process it as quickly as possible. That’s what we try to do at Mt. Pleasant Produce. Just try it and you’ll notice the difference!
Variety
For those who love food and enjoy trying the wondrous variety that mother nature has to offer, you’ll be happy to try all of the delicious flavors you can’t find in your average grocery store. Here are just a few of our favorites.
Dandelion Jelly
We use what many people consider to be a pesky weed to flavor this delicious jelly. Made by juicing the bright yellow flowers, this delicately flavored jelly tastes just like sweet honey. Use it on anything you would put honey on — toast, yogurt, peanut butter sandwiches, or just eat it straight off of the spoon!
Elderberry Jelly
You may have heard of taking elderberry supplements as a natural way to ward off colds, but before they were turned into syrups and cough lozenges, elderberries were used to make delicious jams and jellies. These tiny, tart berries grow on bushes and if you’ve ever tried them right off the tree, you might wonder why anyone would turn them into jelly. The fact is, once these little bitter berries are cooked, they transform into a sweet, juicy treat. Try our elderberry jelly and you’ll see what we mean!
Rhubarb Jelly
You’ve surely heard of strawberry-rhubarb pie, but how about straight rhubarb jelly? For some, just the thought of straight rhubarb is enough to make their mouth pucker, but let us assure you that our rhubarb jelly is truly delightful. Made with only four simple ingredients — sugar, rhubarb, water, and pectin, the sweet-tart flavor of this tasty treat will keep you coming back for more. Try it on some of our homemade baked goods for a breakfast worth getting out of bed for!
Order Amish Jams and Jellies at Mt. Pleasant Produce
Some of the most enjoyable things in life are the simplest — and we think that’s the case when it comes to our Amish jams and jellies. Made with only a few ingredients and a lot of love, we encourage you to order some for your family and be sure to buy a few extras to give to friends. We take pride in creating only the best products and we’ll be happy to ship them directly to your home. Shop Mt. Pleasant Produce in Honey Brook today!