Importance Score: 20 / 100 🔵
Meghan Markle’s As Ever Product Line: Does It Live Up to the Hype?
After widespread anticipation, Meghan Markle has launched her As Ever collection, a new lifestyle brand featuring home and garden products. This independent review assesses whether the As Ever product line, which includes items such as herbal teas, fruit spreads, and baking mixes, justifies the extensive pre-launch buzz.
In short: disappointingly, not entirely.
This reviewer approached these items with genuine optimism. Acknowledging Markle’s recognized style, there was an initial purchase of nail polish colors from her associated ShopMy page.
Enthusiasm for this product launch stemmed from early previews, notably the distribution of homemade jam under the former brand name, American Riviera Orchard, to figures like Kris Jenner.
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
Post-viewing “With Love, Meghan” on Netflix, expectations for the product line further increased.
The aspiration, inspired by the show’s imagery of a refined kitchen setting, was to capture a touch of “Montecito magic” even within a smaller urban living space, echoing promises from Markle’s recent communications.
This publication acquired all eight products, which had rapidly sold out online, to conduct a thorough evaluation. This included the highly sought-after wildflower honey, which proved challenging to procure.
Despite expedited shipping, the honey was the final item to arrive.
After nearly a year of anticipation, Meghan Markle has finally unveiled her As Ever product line to the world – but was it really worth the wait?
This publication acquired all eight sold-out products to conduct a thorough evaluation. This included the highly sought-after wildflower honey that was nearly impossible to buy.
Inspired by the show’s imagery of a refined kitchen, the aspiration was to capture a touch of “Montecito magic,” as promised in a recent newsletter.
However, upon evaluating each item in the As Ever range, none markedly distinguished itself as particularly essential or exceptional.
The baking mixes were judged to be cumbersome and complicated in their preparation. The raspberry spread was found to be more akin to a dessert topping than a traditional fruit preserve.
Therefore, presented below is this publication’s official ranking, outlining which items may warrant consideration and which could be passed over, even in a Montecito shopping context.
8. Herbal Hibiscus Tea, $12
According to this review, the Herbal Hibiscus Tea is positioned as the least compelling offering within The Duchess’s As Ever brand.
The recommendation is to discontinue this particular tea entirely and explore alternative flavor profiles.
The tea is packaged in a diminutive, 0.9oz tin, bearing the brand’s signature gold accents and palm tree emblem, and contains 12 tea sachets.
A notable positive aspect is the sachet packaging, which uses chic nylon bags, providing a more upscale presentation compared to typical paper tea bags.
The Herbal Hibiscus Tea is positioned as the least compelling offering within The Duchess’s As Ever brand.
Prior to tasting, the tea exhibited a vibrant red hue, considered unappealing, resembling artificial food coloring.
The product description suggests steeping the tea in a mason jar under sunlight. However, this testing environment was a standard office setting, not conducive to outdoor steeping.
Following the provided instructions, boiling water was used for steeping a sachet for seven minutes.
This point marked a moment of regret.
Before even tasting, the tea presented an intensely red color, which was considered unexpectedly off-putting.
The flavor profile was intensely bitter with pronounced floral notes, likened by one evaluator to “drinking lip balm.”
“It tasted like unclean dishwater,” commented one writer. “The essence of flavor was solely in the aroma. It was merely the concept of a flavor.”
Some tasters found it undrinkable, with one instance of expectoration.
In summary, the hibiscus tea was unfavorably received, characterized by a more assertive scent than taste.
Some tasters found it undrinkable, with one instance of spitting it back into the cup.
7. Herbal Peppermint Tea, $12
The As Ever Herbal Peppermint Tea shared the same characteristics as the hibiscus variant, differing only in flavor. It was packaged in an identical container with 12 sachets.
While not as overtly disagreeable as the hibiscus tea, the peppermint version suffered from a similar deficiency: its taste resembled the abstract idea of mint tea.
A strong peppermint aroma was evident upon bringing the tea to the nose, yet the actual taste was notably weak.
The tea failed to deliver a lasting peppermint flavor and was generally deemed bland.
6. Herbal Lemon Ginger Tea, $12
The Herbal Lemon Ginger Tea, akin to the other tea offerings, was lacking in strength, but it presented the most palatable taste among the three herbal infusions.
This blend leaned slightly towards ginger, yet remained balanced and not overpowering.
The Herbal Lemon Ginger Tea, akin to the other tea offerings, was lacking in strength, but it presented the most palatable taste among the peppermint and hibiscus teas.
The flavor profile was a pleasant combination of lemon and ginger, albeit muted.
While not unpleasant, its $12 price point positions it against numerous more compelling tea options.
If only one tea from the range were to be retained, this lemon ginger blend would be the suggested choice.
Evaluated hot, it is also suggested it might be refreshing when iced during warmer seasons.
5. Flower Sprinkles, $15
For those familiar with Meghan Markle’s Netflix series, flower sprinkles are a signature element, possibly exceeding even her noted “jam.”
Throughout the series, these sprinkles—a colorful medley of dried floral fragments—are frequently used as a garnish.
Markle employs these flower sprinkles on diverse items from frosted donuts and yogurt parfaits to tea sandwiches and crudité arrangements.
Flower sprinkles are a signature element in Meghan Markle’s presentations, possibly more so than her noted “jam.”
Markle uses flower sprinkles to garnish various dishes, including frosted donuts, yogurt parfaits, tea sandwiches, and crudité platters.
Given their prominent feature in “With Love, Meghan,” a retail version is available for $15.
The pricing immediately stood out as high. Comparable products are readily available on online marketplaces for less than $10.
The sprinkles are presented in a petite, gold-toned 0.17g jar with a transparent lid, allowing visual inspection of the product.
The jar’s fill level was notably below capacity, approximately half-full.
As Ever Flower Sprinkles feature a mix of red, yellow, orange, and blue, appearing more like confetti than distinct petals due to their lack of defined shape.
They possess a floral aroma, despite being edible, closely mirroring the scent of the hibiscus tea.
The flower sprinkles were deemed acceptable but failed to replicate the aesthetic appeal conveyed by Markle on television. They were considered somewhat superfluous and did not significantly enhance the presentation of food.
Absent prior knowledge, these flower sprinkles might be mistaken for potpourri reminiscent of the 1980s.
As Ever Flower Sprinkles contain a mix of red, yellow, orange, and blue, resembling confetti more than petals due to their indistinct shape.
The flower sprinkles were deemed acceptable but did not achieve the visual enhancement suggested by Meghan Markle’s presentations.
4. As Ever Crepe Mix, $14
The As Ever collection includes baking provisions, such as a $14 crepe mix, described by Markle as “reminiscent of backpacking through France as a student.”
In promotional material, Markle wrote, ‘These streetside thin pancakes – filled with chocolate, fruit, fresh lemon and powdered sugar, or made savory with ham and cheese – they truly are a canvas for flavor. I wanted to bring that memory and experience to you at home. (Also, they’re so easy to make!)’
However, this claim of ease is disputed.
Preparation challenges were encountered, casting doubt on the simplicity of the recipe.
Batter preparation was straightforward, requiring just one egg, one cup and two tablespoons of water, and two tablespoons of melted butter.
The resulting batter was notably viscous and adhesive, adhering to utensils during portioning.
Spreading the batter thinly in the pan was problematic, leading to thicker crepes than typically desired.
Batter preparation for the As Ever Crepe Mix was straightforward, requiring minimal additional ingredients.
Maureen Callahan described the result as having a ‘flavor and mouthfeel most akin to undercooked pancakes.’
Beyond a pleasant vanilla aroma, the overall experience of making the crepes was messy, sticky, and generally unpleasant.
A separate attempt by another colleague confirmed similar difficulties.
One individual reported needing approximately six attempts to achieve satisfactory results.
Columnist Maureen Callahan characterized the final product as having a “flavor and mouthfeel most akin to undercooked pancakes.”
Other tasters described the flavor as “unremarkable” and “bland,” suggesting homemade crepes would be both simpler and superior.
“They seemed perpetually either undercooked or burnt, with no middle ground,” noted one reviewer.
3. Raspberry Spread in Keepsake Packaging, $14
A centerpiece of the As Ever launch was the Raspberry Spread, sold in special “Keepsake Packaging” at an initial price of $14.
A centerpiece of the As Ever launch was Meghan Markle’s Raspberry Spread, offered in special Keepsake Packaging for $14 in the initial release.
The taste is notably sweet, reminiscent of a sugary raspberry dessert sauce rather than a traditional jam intended for toast.
This raspberry confection, frequently referred to as “her jam,” attracted considerable attention leading up to the launch. Markle previously sent 50 jars to notable figures, including Chrissy Teigen, under the previous brand name.
Despite the rebrand to As Ever, the company asserts that the raspberry fruit spread is based on a recipe “Meghan crafted in her home kitchen.”
In her Netflix series, Markle explained that her preserve is technically not jam because “jam is equal parts sugar and fruit.”
“I just don’t think you can taste the fruit that way,” she stated.
Food & Wine magazine notes that FDA regulations define jam as a single-fruit product comprising at least 45 percent fruit and 55 percent sugar.
Despite pre-launch anticipation, the product did not impress.
Upon opening, the texture immediately stood out. The spread was exceptionally fluid and thin, almost excessively so. Its consistency suggested potential melting during transit.
However, the product description does mention a “fluid texture” and a “hint of lemon.”
Typical jam is thicker and holds its shape, whereas the As Ever raspberry spread had a sauce-like consistency, dripping from silverware, considered unappealing.
The flavor was notably intense, with a discernible sour lemon note, as advertised in the product description.
Standard jam has a denser consistency. Meghan’s raspberry spread dripped from a spoon like a sauce, deemed unappetizing.
Flavor-wise, it was intensely sweet, leaning more towards a dessert-style raspberry sauce than a breakfast jam.
The lemon element was indeed present, contributing a sour counterpoint, consistent with the product’s description.
Tasting it by the spoonful was overwhelmingly sweet. When spread on sourdough toast, the experience worsened.
Its thin consistency made it challenging to eat with toast; it ran excessively, saturating the bread and creating a mess. The toast became soggy within moments.
As a topping for ice cream, pie, or pancakes, the spread might be more suitable. However, as a standalone product intended to be enjoyed like jam, it was found wanting.
2. Limited-edition Wildflower Honey with Honeycomb
This publication was able to acquire the limited-edition, $28 Wildflower Honey with Honeycomb, a product that experienced an unexpected over-demand.
Evaluators were divided on the Wildflower Honey; some appreciated it, while others disliked the ‘waxy’ texture of the honeycomb.
This publication secured Meghan Markle’s limited-edition, $28 Wildflower Honey with Honeycomb, a product that inadvertently oversold due to popularity.
The jar of honey was the final component of the order to arrive, packaged in a 9oz container bearing the As Ever brand markings.
Opinions regarding the honey were varied. Some reviewers appreciated it, whereas others were critical of the honeycomb’s “waxy” taste.
A pronounced wildflower aftertaste was consistently noted.
Overall, the honey secured second place in the ranking, recognized for its pleasant, inoffensive flavor. The honeycomb component enhanced its perceived luxury, although some found it slightly artificial in taste.
Among the As Ever offerings, this honey felt most premium—a direction suggested for future products.
However, its $28 cost suggests that comparable quality honey might be found at local markets for less.
1. Shortbread Cookie Mix With Flower Sprinkles, $14
The top-ranked item is the shortbread cookie mix with flower sprinkles.
The mix requires adding two sticks of softened butter and chilling the dough for at least one hour.
Despite an initial burnt batch, the mix yielded numerous cookies, the remainder baked to a golden-brown finish.
These cookies were a clear success, receiving unanimous positive feedback from the evaluation team.
While acknowledging that dough preparation was somewhat laborious—requiring an hour of refrigeration and involving sharp flower sprinkle components—the final result was deemed the most worthwhile product in the As Ever line.
The instructions specify adding two sticks of softened butter and chilling the dough for a minimum of one hour.
Mixing the dough was relatively simple, but shaping it proved difficult due to its crumbly texture and the butter content, which made handling messy.
Despite the slightly involved process, the resulting shortbread cookies were genuinely tasty.
Although the initial batch was overbaked, the mix produced a generous quantity of cookies, the rest of which were baked perfectly to a golden hue.
The cookies presented a typical shortbread flavor profile – light, buttery, and pleasant.
Their soft texture was appreciated, and they maintained freshness overnight.
Overall, the As Ever line is unremarkable. Acceptable, but overpriced unless specifically for Meghan Markle enthusiasts.
The final cookies genuinely tasted like excellent shortbread. This particular mix was a high point in the product range.
While not groundbreaking, it would be an engaging activity for families with young children. The inclusion of flower sprinkles adds a playful, whimsical touch, even if reminiscent of potpourri.
The Final Verdict
In conclusion, Meghan Markle’s As Ever line is generally underwhelming. It is adequate, but overpriced, particularly for those who are not ardent followers of Meghan Markle.
Certain items, notably the hibiscus tea, flower sprinkles, and raspberry spread, were considered below par. These could benefit from significant refinement in future iterations, should the product line continue.
Beyond these outliers, the majority of the products are simply average. Neither exceptional nor poor, merely satisfactory.
Many products are familiar and unoriginal. This publication collectively agreed against repurchasing any item, including the favored shortbread cookies.
Future rebranding might be advantageous—perhaps focusing on curated picnic sets or specialized baking kits aligned with elements from her Netflix appearances. However, ultimately, the brand’s direction remains with its creator.
As Ever,
FEMAIL