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Preserving food is a tradition that has been passed down in my family for generations. Living in central Pennsylvania, where growing your own food was a necessity, my grandparents and their children learned how to can, dry and preserve produce from farm-to-table. Today, my family continues this tradition, and we still use my grandmother’s old Mason and Bell jars to can our jams and jellies. Among our favorite recipes is the Blackberry Blueberry Jam, which we make in midsummer when the vines of wild blackberries and raspberries are overflowing with fruit. This jam is not only delicious, but it is also an excellent way to preserve the summer flavors for the cold winter months.
Black and Blue Jam is a classic recipe that can be found in almost every household. However, our recipe offers a unique twist that gives your preserves a distinctive flavor. Mixing blackberries and blueberries in jams and jellies is nothing new, but adding lemon and lavender to it gives it an excellent flavor. Our recipe is easy to follow, and you can make it in large batches to store in your pantry for months.
The first step to making Black and Blue Jam is to prepare your berries. Rinse them in cold water and let them dry. Once they are dry, place them in a large pot, add fresh lemon juice, and let them cook over low heat. When the berries have released their juices, add sugar and lavender, and let it cook until it reaches the desired consistency.
One of the best things about making your own jam is that you can experiment with the recipe. You can add different herbs, flowers, or even spices to create a unique flavor that suits your taste. In our recipe, we use lavender to give the jam an elegant and delicate touch. However, you can try using dandelions, violets, or even white clover blossoms to add character and aroma to your jam.
Another benefit of making your own Black and Blue Jam is that you know exactly what goes into it. You can control the quality of the ingredients and avoid any additives or preservatives that might be in store brought products. Plus, the satisfaction of creating something from scratch is unbeatable.
How to Make Blackberry Blueberry Jam
See the full recipe card at the end of this blog.
These ingredients come together quickly and easily! Once your ingredients are gathered, it’s time to move on to making these blueberry muffins. Begins with preheating your oven to 350°F. Line a muffin pan with paper. The nice thing about making blueberry muffins is that you don’t have a lot of steps to follow!
First: Make the Tea and Prepare for the Canning Process.
Make lavender tea by boiling water and pouring over organic food-grade lavender, allow to steep. Prepare canner and wash/sterilize two half-pints (or equivalent) mason (jelly) jars. Keep jars in heat until ready to use.
Second: Gather your ingredients
Place blueberries, blackberries, sugar, honey, and lavender tea in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan on low heat. Zest enough lemon to get one full tsp. of lemon zest. Cut the lemon that you just zested in half; squeeze juice from a lemon into a bowl to equal two teaspoons. Remove the rind and skin and seeds of the second lemon section lemon to expose just the lemon pulp, chop lemon pulp wedges into 1/2” segments. Mix two tablespoons of sugar with pectin and stir pectin sugar mixture into fruit mixture, and bring to a rolling boil over medium heat, stirring often. Boil, stirring constantly, 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low; stir in lemon zest, chopped segments, and lemon juice. Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes; remove from heat. Cool 10 minutes.
Third: Test and Can the Black and Blue Jam
To test: put some jam on a spoon and place in the freezer to see if it jells enough Skim off any foam. Ladle hot jam into hot jars, leaving 1/4-inch of headspace. Wipe jar rims and threads. Screw on lids and rings. Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. (to seal) Remove from water and let cool completely (12 to 24 hours). Check seals. Any unsealed jars should be refrigerated and used within 3 weeks.
Fourth: Serve
We want you to eat this jam year-round. You will want to start right away because it's so delicious. I enjoy this Black and Blue Jam on our Healthy Blueberry Coffee Cake, and on our Blueberry Muffins or Beer Bread and on our Sexy Brownie Sundae.
Sweet Blackberry Blueberry Jam is also known as Black and Blue Jam
We always encourage you to play with our recipes and make them your own. Try adding in other fruits, or infuse different blossoms into your recipe. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- A little grapefruit or orange would add brightness to this jam.
- Mix in raspberries.
- Swap out the berries for peaches and apricots.
- Use Blackberry or Blueberry Eastern Shore Honey.
Black and Blue Jam is a time-honored recipe that is easy to make and delicious. By adding lemon and lavender to the mix, you can create a unique jam that captures the essence of summer. Whether you spread it on toast, add it to your oatmeal, or use it to bake a cake, this jam is sure to become one of your favorites. So, roll up your sleeves, put on some music, and start making your own Black and Blue Jam. You won't be disappointed! If you make a batch of this Jam, post a picture and use the hashtag #beeinspired on Instagram. We love seeing your photos!
