Blackberry and earl grey flavors come together in this easy blackberry jam recipe for a smooth spread. Earl grey tea adds a light citrus note. This jam is perfect on any tea biscuit or scone!
Making a fresh batch of earl grey flavored blackberry jam couldn't be any easier. The blackberry jam came out perfectly the first time I made it, thanks to this blackberry jam recipe by Portland's 2018 Chef of the Year Karl Holl.
Unusual Blackberry Jam Recipe
I came across this blackberry jam recipe on the Smith Tea website. They make a superb earl grey tea called Lord Bergamot, so I knew this earl grey jam was going to be good. I altered the recipe a little by adding more earl grey tea than the original recipe, and I added a bit of lemon juice to bring out the berry flavor. I must tell you; the jam turned out amazing!
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You won't be disappointed. The recipe calls for pectin, which produces a smooth and slightly firm jelly, while the earl grey tea adds just a hint of citrus notes for a delicate flavor. Not overpowering in the slightest. If new jam flavors excite you, you're definitely going to enjoy this earl grey jam!
Pro Tips:
- You can use your favorite earl grey tea; be sure it is naturally flavored with the real essence of bergamot oil.
- When a natural oil is used, it will say ‘oil of bergamot’ or ‘bergamot essential oil.’ Natural bergamot has a subtle but intense flavor.
- Don't think you have to wait for blackberries to be in season. You can use fresh or frozen blackberries.
How to Make Blackberry Jam
Always wash the blackberries before making the jam. Remove any dried leaves, stems, and dirt.
First, make a concentrated infusion of earl grey tea to which you'll stir in sugar, creating an earl grey simple syrup. Be sure to stir the sugar to dissolve. Place the blackberries in a large bowl, pour the earl grey simple syrup over the blackberries, and cover. Let them macerate overnight in the fridge.
Homemade Blackberry Jam
The simple process will yield you the best earl grey blackberry jam you've ever tasted. It's worth the effort to make homemade jam since it's just not easy to find. I'd be surprised if your favorite gourmet shop carried earl grey jam.
Blackberry Jam Recipe with Pectin
Once the blackberries have been macerated overnight, place the mixture in a pot and simmer it down over medium heat for about an hour. Add the lemon and pectin powder at the end. I used the Ball Real Fruit, Low or No-Sugar-Needed Pectin for perfect consistency.
Once you stir in the pectin, let it simmer for another 10 -15 minutes until it's reached your desired consistency. Place a dollop of jam on a plate and refrigerate to get an idea of the finished firmness.
It's a very similar process to making cranberry or applesauce. And pretty much just as easy!
Seedless Blackberry Jam
To make a seedless blackberry jam, I used my very handy OXO Good Grips Food Mill. I use this all the time for making sauces to filter out any unwanted seeds and pulp. I've even used it to mash potatoes. It's all stainless and has three different sizes of grinding discs. I used the finest disc for the blackberry jam recipe. The fine disc is designed for foods like jellies and baby food.
Store the finished blackberry jam in two 8-ounce Ball jars and refrigerate for up to 3 weeks. If you're familiar with home canning, you can process the filled jars in a boiling water bath.
This blackberry jam recipe fills two of the half-pint 8-ounce jars. I just loved this vintage collectors edition design! Especially the aqua blue color. Ball made this limited edition design celebrating 135 years in business.
Blackberry Jam Recipe
Earl Grey Blackberry Jam Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 teaspoons Earl Grey Tea
- 1 cup water
- 2 pounds blackberries
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 3 teaspoons pectin powder
Instructions
Directions
- Steep earl grey tea in 8 ounces of boiling water for 5 minutes.
- Remove tea bags or strain loose leaf tea.
- Add the sugar to the tea infusion and stir to dissolve.
- Place washed blackberries in a large bowl.
- Pour the earl grey simple syrup over the blackberries and cover.
- Refrigerate overnight.
- Add macerated raspberry mixture to a large pot and bring to a boil.
- Simmer on medium heat for an hour.
- Mash blackberries as they cook.
- Add powdered pectin and lemon juice. Stir to combine.
- Simmer another 10 -15 minutes until the desired consistency is reached.
- Remove from heat.
- Refrigerate a small dollop of jam on a plate to test firmness.
- Pour blackberry mixture into a food mill and stir to remove seeds.
- Spoon into two 8-ounce Ball jars with lid and refrigerate.
- Keeps for 3 weeks in the refrigerator.
Notes
- You can use your favorite earl grey tea just be sure it is naturally flavored with the real essence of bergamot oil.
- When a natural oil is used it will say ‘oil of bergamot’ or ‘bergamot essential oil’. Natural bergamot has a subtle but intense flavor.
- Don't think you have to wait for blackberries to be in season. You can use fresh or frozen blackberries.
Nutrition
Health Benefits of Blackberries
Blackberries have the most antioxidant power of ALL the fruits and berries, author of the New York Times bestseller How Not to Die.
Blackberries are also rich in Vitamin A, folate, Vitamin C, calcium , fiber, protein and iron.
Bergamot
Bergamot is a Mediterranean fruit similar to oranges but with a very thick rind. The essential oil comes from the fruit's peel and is used in perfumes and earl grey tea. There are many folk remedies with bergamot oil, especially for skin and urinary tract complaints.
But one study found a phytonutrient in bergamot oil called bergamottin that is beneficial in protecting the stomach lining. Source
And that's my jamming goodness for you today ♡!
Did you make this recipe?
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Janet M
This was sooo easy to make! Thank you for this delicious recipe.
Dean L.
amazing!