#jamvent 2023

[coffeegleek]

Having leftover Jamvent 2023 jams on slices of whipped cream cake. When I’m more awake I’ll whip up the remaining heavy cream to go with the cake and jam.

This morning it’s wild blueberry balm leaves.

[coffeegleek]

Jamvent 2023 - Day 24

Cherry Christmas Spice

Well Merry Christmas to me! This is my absolute favorite of the year. Of course cherries are also one of my absolute favorite fruits and the two other cherry jams this year were in my top 10. There’s a strong cherry flavor. That’s what you taste the most. I had to think about spices and found them in the taste that lingers in the back of my tongue. I like that it doesn’t overwhelm the cherry nor come across as too harsh. It’s a well balanced jam and I could eat a whole barrel full of it and be a happy jam camper.

And thus concludes the last of Jamvent 2023 jams and the last of my scones. Thanks to everyone who came along for the journey. May the rest of this year and next be filled with your favorite things. :) 

I can’t wait to see what 24 jams in tiny jars  come next year. 

[coffeegleek]

Jamvent 2023 - Day 23

Mango Raspberry Lime

This jam was also featured on Day 23 in Jamvent 2022. Like then as with this morning it was pure nom nom nom goodness. Not too sweet, nor tart, just lots of raspberry and mango flavor and some tartness. No bitterness like with some of the lime jams this year. Would love a whole jar of it. 10/10

[coffeegleek]

Jamvent 2023 - Day 22

Orange Mandarin Passion Fruit

Oh, now this is a nice jam! I don’t normally like orange-mandarin jams as I find them too bitter. And yes, this does have some bitterness to it. Not sure what passion fruit is supposed to taste like, but it’s clearly blending well, adding a natural sweetness and balancing out the mandarin. Would absolutely have this jam again. I bet it would be great in thumbprint cookies. And now that the scone is nearly gone, I’m tasting more bitterness so I’m going to drop down my ranking a little. 8/10

[coffeegleek]

Jamvent 2023 - Day 21

Rhubarb Strawberry

This was a nicely balanced jam. No strong tartness that usually comes from rhubarb and no over sweetness that often comes with strawberry jams. Putting the rhubarb first was a good choice. Its only downfall is that it lacked a bit in favor. It is a serviceable and easily accessible jam. I ate the whole little jar on a scone. I just wish it was more memorable. 9/10

Strawberry Rhubarb was featured on Day 1 of Jamvent 2022.

[coffeegleek]

Jamvent 2023 - Day 20

Quince

I haven’t had quince jam since I made it nearly 20 years ago. This didn’t taste like that. It didn’t taste like much of anything, tbh, aside from “sweet.” I had been hoping for at least a little tartness. It didn’t outright suck though, but there wasn’t anything to make it stand out either. The flavor of quince is described by multiple sources as “a taste between apple, pear, and citrus.” I got only a hint of pear. I wouldn’t reject the jam if offered it again and I did use up the whole jar on two halves of a scone, so there’s that. Hoping if they include it in next year’s advent calendar that they punch up the recipe. I’m giving it a 5/10. Maybe that’s too harsh because I’m exhausted from lack of decent sleep.

[coffeegleek]

Jamvent 2023: Day 19

Strawberry Guava

100% yum! The first taste is strawberry which is followed by a blend of both the strawberry and guava. Not that I’m very familiar with guava. It’s a really nice combination and I would happily buy a large jar to have as an anytime jam. What a wonderful breakfast this was today. 10/10

[coffeegleek]

Jamvent 2023 - Day 18

Pineapple Ginger 

On its own, I wasn’t thrilled about this jam. However, a scone improves it. Dominate taste is the pineapple, sweet but not cloyingly so. The ginger is definitely there and lingers in the mouth as the aftertaste. It’s not a hot ginger taste at least. I wouldn’t buy a jar of the jam, but I wouldn’t go jamless if this was the only one available at breakfast or brunch. Plus, I did end up spreading it on the rest of the scone bottom. 7/10