Importance Score: 25 / 100 🔵
Meghan Markle’s As Ever Raspberry Spread: Hype vs. Reality – A First Taste
After significant anticipation and a complete rebrand, Meghan Markle’s As Ever raspberry spread has finally debuted. But does the Duchess of Sussex’s much-discussed berry creation live up to the considerable buzz? This review offers an exclusive first taste to determine if the much-hyped raspberry concoction warrants the acclaim or if a recipe revision is needed.
Initial Launch and Hype Surrounding the Raspberry Spread
Despite selling out rapidly upon its Wednesday release, FEMAIL secured a jar of the $14 raspberry spread, complete with keepsake packaging, to conduct the first public assessment. This confection, affectionately termed “her jam” by Meghan, generated substantial excitement prior to its launch. Last year, 50 jars were dispatched to notable figures like Kris Jenner under the brand’s previous moniker, American Riviera Orchard.
Rebranding to As Ever and Product Claims
Now officially rebranded as As Ever, the company asserts that this raspberry fruit spread originates from a recipe personally developed by Meghan in her own kitchen. The Duchess previously clarified on her Netflix program, “With Love, Meghan,” that her product is technically a ‘spread’ not a jam because authentic jam has an equal ratio of sugar and fruit. She expressed a preference for a higher fruit content to enhance the fruit flavor profile.
Defining Jam: FDA Regulations vs. Meghan’s Spread
According to Food & Wine, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines jam as a product derived from a single fruit, containing a minimum of 45 percent fruit and 55 percent sugar.
In contrast, As Ever markets its product as a raspberry spread, not a jam or preserve. The listed ingredients include raspberries, organic pure cane sugar, organic lemon juice concentrate, and fruit pectin, a natural stabilizer.
Unboxing and First Impressions: Packaging and Presentation
On Saturday morning, we received and unboxed Meghan’s highly anticipated raspberry spread, delivered via FedEx in a compact box. Inside, a ‘handwritten’ note from Meghan, printed on high-quality postcard stock with the As Ever brand embossed in gold, was immediately visible.
The reverse of the card featured a printed message in Meghan’s signature calligraphy: ‘Enjoy – Meghan.’
Continuing through the layers of packaging, the spread was nestled within packing peanuts and wrapped in cream-colored paper, ultimately revealing the central item.
Keepsake Packaging: Luxury Candle or Condiment?
The 7.6oz jar, due to the mandatory keepsake packaging offered during the initial launch, arrived in a cylindrical tan container adorned with the As Ever logo. This elaborate packaging, featuring a jam-jar-shaped cutout and potentially difficult to repurpose, evoked the impression of a luxury candle more than a typical refrigerator condiment.
Taste and Texture Analysis: Is It Really Raspberry Jam?
Beyond the packaging, the crucial element is the taste. However, our initial taste test suggests As Ever’s flagship product may encounter some challenges.
Size and Value Comparison
Upon accessing the spread, its diminutive size was immediately apparent. The jar contains only 215 grams (7.6oz) of spread for $14, or $9 for the spread alone. This contrasts noticeably with standard preserves like Bonne Maman, which offers 370 grams (13oz) for around $6.
Texture Assessment: Loose and Liquid Consistency
The texture upon opening the jar was striking. The raspberry spread exhibited a very liquid and thin consistency – almost ‘runny.’ Its fluid nature could easily be mistaken for melting during transit, despite being described by the brand as having a ‘fluid texture’ and a hint of lemon.
Standard jams typically possess a thicker, more cohesive texture. In contrast, As Ever’s spread dripped from a spoon like a sauce, which was considered unappealing.
Flavor Profile: Overly Sweet and Lemon-Forward
The flavor is predominantly sweet – exceptionally so. It more closely resembles a saccharine raspberry dessert topping than a conventional jam or spread intended for toast. The prominent sweetness overpowered other potential flavor nuances.
The lemon flavor, consistent with the product description, was also notably strong and detectable within the sweet profile.
Performance on Toast: A “Sopping Wet Disaster”?
Following a spoonful taste test, which was deemed overly sweet, the spread was applied to toasted sourdough bread. This application further exposed the product’s shortcomings.
Spreading proved challenging due to the thin consistency, resulting in drips and messiness. The toast quickly became saturated and soggy within minutes – a “sopping wet disaster.”
The intense sweetness of the spread masked the sourdough flavor, with only the sugar and lemon tang discernible.
Potential Uses Beyond Toast
While unsuitable for toast, the spread might perform better as a topping for vanilla ice cream, pie, or pancakes, where its sauce-like consistency and intense sweetness could be complementary. However, as a standalone product intended for traditional jam applications, it reportedly “crumbled,” or rather “dripped,” under scrutiny.
Comparison to Competitors: Wegman’s and Bonne Maman
Compared to raspberry jelly from Wegman’s grocery stores and Bonne Maman preserves, As Ever’s raspberry spread fared poorly. Both competitor products exhibited markedly different taste and texture profiles.
Both Wegman’s and Bonne Maman jams were significantly thicker, allowing a spoon to stand upright in the jar. They were also subtly less sweet than As Ever’s offering and did not cause toast to become soggy.
Final Verdict: Recipe Revision May Be Necessary
For Meghan Markle to successfully pursue her venture into the preserves market, a revised recipe appears essential. While the flavor is considered partially acceptable, the consistency drastically detracts from the product and ultimately leads to its failure.
Rating and Conclusion
Out of a possible five stars, this review awards As Ever raspberry spread a score of two stars.
Despite the Duchess’s assertion that ‘jam is her jam,’ this product experience suggests otherwise. Perhaps ‘sauce’ is a more accurate descriptor.