If you’re upset that there’s no royal jam in Montecito, you had better compote yourself.
On April 2, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, released the first eight products from her lifestyle brand As Ever. From Herbal Hibiscus Tea to Flower Sprinkles (which showed up on her Netflix show, “With Love, Meghan”), everything flew off the virtual shelves within an hour.
Given Meghan’s air of luxuriousness, folks have been wondering how the brand would do as fears of a recession loom large, but in an April 8 interview with Fortune, Meghan said she wasn’t worried.
“At the moment, all of our products are currently made in the U.S., so we don’t anticipate tariffs affecting us directly,” she said. “But as we look at the larger context of how this is going to affect the consumer day to day, I’m very grateful that in part of the conception of this brand, I wanted to create products that look more prestige, but are more accessible and affordable. I think during any time of recession, people still want to find creature comforts, items that can bring them joy.”
I was one of the lucky souls to be able to secure a jar of her Raspberry Spread — which retails for $9, or $15 with a keepsake box — which the brand says is “where it all began.”
It’s also the spread that everyone seems to be talking about online, from Instagram to TikTok, so I was eager to try it.
First thing’s first: This isn’t jam.
Months ago, every celebrity from Chrissy Teigen to “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Garcelle Beauvais gabbed about the royal’s “jam,” but Meghan actually sent 50 jars of strawberry spread labeled with brand’s old name — American Riviera Orchard — and nothing about its contents. We’ve been jam-boozled by the glitterati.
With all that in mind, I was assuming a thick texture when I opened the jar and almost spilled it all over myself. The confusion is widespread — and valid! — as fruit cooked with sugar goes by a bevy of names: jam, jelly, chutney, marmalade and more.
This raspberry spread has pectin in it, like jam typically does, but it isn’t like the jam you find on store shelves.
To compare, Bonne Maman’s Raspberry Preserves — also not jam — has similar ingredients, including pectin, but is much thicker. I would call this a syrup, compote or coulis. Meghan is calling it “spread,” though — so spread it is!
Tastewise, I found it fresh and bright. The raspberry sweetness gives way to a lemony tartness I found really refreshing paired with whipped cream cheese on an English muffin. The consistency, though surprising at first, gives it a homemade feel, as does the ratio of raspberry to lemon. It tasted like a sunny day, even though it’s overcast as I stare out my window.
I don’t think the spread would work on a closed sandwich, though: It would likely sploosh out of a peanut butter and jelly — er, spread — leaving your hands a sticky mess. On the other hand, I suspect this spread would go fabulously in a crepe — which is probably a reason the brand sells mix for that, too — or poured over pancakes.
I was pleasantly surprised by how different this product and the others I’ve tried are from that of competitors in the market. Last night, I tried the Herbal Peppermint Tea and it was so minty, I felt like I was drinking a pack of liquid Altoids — an unexpected feeling, but not a bad one.
I’m excited to try more products from Meghan’s brand as it expands — but only if I can get my hands on them fast enough.
