Over the past year, Meghan Markle — ahem, Meghan Sussex — has been teasing a lifestyle brand by way of jam. It’s such common knowledge that even I, someone who does not care for royals nor this particular type of spread, have known about it and awaited its arrival.
The Montecito-inspired lifestyle brand As Ever, née American Riviera Orchard, first took the world by surprise when the Duchess of Sussex gifted numerous celebrities and close friends jars of limited-edition strawberry jam around this time last year. Since then, the company’s name has changed and Meghan has been taking notes from Mike White and edging us to the very end. When the jams, cookie and crêpe mixes, flower sprinkles, and honey finally hit the market on April 2, they sold out without an hour. But we worked fast and got our hands on a jar of As Ever’s raspberry spread. Below, what the Cut team thought.
“I wouldn’t pay $14 dollars for this. Its consistency is a little too thin for my taste — you really wouldn’t be able to spread it on toast. But it does taste like real raspberries, more tangy than sweet.” —Catherine Thompson, features editor
“Honestly, I like the Meghan Markle jam! Or spread, I should say. Whatever it’s called, it tastes of raspberries and sugar, which are in fact the primary ingredients. I do think, texturewise, it’s too runny for a PB&J or, God forbid, an open-faced slice of toast. But it would do quite well spread thinly inside a crêpe, which feels more like Meghan’s breakfast vibe. Personally, I would enjoy a dollop on top of a slice of chocolate cake or a scoop of ice cream.” —Katja Vujic, writer
“I was put off by the texture. It’s slimy and viscous, a bit like baby food. Generously, raspberry purée.” —Emily Gould, features writer
“Is there such a thing as a bad raspberry jam? I like how runny this one is. And I loved her show! Sue me!” —Jen Ortiz, deputy editor
“It’s somehow simultaneously chunky and runny, somehow very sweet and also perhaps salty? Equal parts ‘Hmmmm, do I like this? I don’t think I like this’ and ‘Wait, I kind of like this.’ I could see this growing on me or myself completely forgetting about its existence. 7/10. I wouldn’t pay full price for it, though.” —Danya Issawi, fashion news writer
“It’s too runny and too sweet for me, personally, but I liked the dramatic reveal of the packaging.” —Chantal Fernandez, style features writer
“I’m not much of a jam person (or preserves or jelly) so I don’t have much to compare Meghan’s jam to, but I think it’s too sweet? But I’ll try the honey when she restocks!” —Brooke Marine, culture editor
“Agree with everyone that it’s too runny and oozy, but it tastes good in an unremarkable jam way.” —Danielle Cohen, senior news editor
“It sucks! It’s like something you’d see at the toppings bar at Pinkberry, not a functional standalone jam in itself. I would argue that not only Bonne Maman is far superior but also Smuckers. Very disappointing. I figured she’d be better at making jam than producing podcast content, but no.” — E.J. Dickson, senior writer
“It was fine. The vessel for my jam (a Wheat Thin) was better than the jam itself.” — Hanna Flanagan, shopping editor
“This wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, but I also would not buy it. I was yearning to be converted to a jam lover, and it didn’t work.” — Brooke LaMantia, editorial assistant
“I still prefer Welch’s.” — Jessica Willis, style director
