Jam According To Daniel

I was surprised to read such great things about jam, but then we bought a jar of blueberry and lemon and now I understand! The jam is bursting with fresh blueberries and the lemon flavor is very subtle, creating the perfect mix of tart and sweet. I tried the jam straight from the jar this evening and can’t wait to try it on toast tomorrow morning. We go back to DC in a few days and I’m hoping that we can purchase a few more (or 20) jars to take back with us!

Eat this jam with a spoon. It is the purest fruit flavor with the perfect sweetness. My favorites include thai basil and lavender. Yes, evidently fruit CAN be even better.
Daniel is not so email aware during jamming season so I drove to C’ville for a case. Worth the trip. Worth the dollars. I only say that because everyone else did. You won’t think twice about that once you get your finger in the jar.

I’ve eaten a lot of jam in my life. I’m also a pastry chef, and pretty picky about buying things I haven’t made myself. And I cannot get enough of this jam. It is, hands down, the best I have ever eaten. Not overly sweet, with incredible fruit flavor, and somehow manages to taste fresh – not overcooked and gelatinous like a lot of stuff you buy.
As for the price, it’s worth every penny. You’d spend 8 bucks on a sandwich, why not on a handcrafted preserve that you can enjoy over the course of weeks? I’m currently trying to buy a bunch as holiday gifts. This stuff is so, so good.

I LOVE the strawberry and chocolate mint jam. It’s worth the $ 8 when you consider the amount of local fruit he crams into every jar. He is at the C-​ville Farmers Market on Saturdays, and I think you can also buy some of his jam at Revolutionary Soup and Feast. I’m addicted and I almost cried when I got to the bottom of the jar…

If you do not object on principle to spending $ 8 for a jar of jam, you really should buy this guy’s jam. I am willing to say it is the best jam I have ever had, or ever expect to have. We have a jar of Peach, Blackberry, and Lemon; it’s simply incredible.
He seems to be a regular at the Saturday farmer’s market, and every once in a while I will see his jams in stores around town.

Hello. My name is Gumblicious and I am addicted to jam. Not just any jam, mind you. Rather, I’m particular to the fabulous fruit preserves that Charlottesvillians know as JAM According to Daniel. The jam-​master says that makes me a pozzy-​wallah, which is a moniker that suits me just fine.
So what makes Daniel’s jams so dang good? It could be the whopping pound of fruit that is cooked down to produce one 8oz jar. Or the fact that all his jams are made made from locally produced seasonal fruits, which means fresh and abundant flavor. Or maybe it’s the fact that, unlike conventional jams, there is no pectin and minimal added sugar.
What I do know is this … When I get to the bottom of a jar, I spoon and scrape and lick that puppy clean. Then I cry a little. And then I start devising a plan on how and when to obtain more.
MUST HAVE JAM.
Now, if I lived in Charlottesville, that would be a relatively easy task. I could catch up with Daniel at the seasonal outdoor City Market on Water Street downtown each Saturday morning. Or I could go to one of the many retailers around town who have set up small countertop shrines to his jam, including Revolutionary Soup, Albemarle Bakery, and Feast. Or I could stalk him on Facebook to see where he and his fruity stews might be making a special appearance, such as the Heritage Festival at Monticello, where I scored that first blissful jar of Yellow Peach & Raspberry in Fall of 2010.
But alas, my habit has grown to the point that I now need to buy this stuff by the case. This allows me to host decadent «jam sessions» where I invite family and friends to partake in fabulous concoctions like Strawberry Thai Basil, Peach Cherry & Lavender, and Cherry & Chocolate Mint. And I always keep a jar of Strawberry Apricot in a drawer at my desk at work … and a jar of Pear Ginger under the seat of my car … just in case. You never quite know when the urge to jam might strike.
Now that I think about it, maybe I should just keep this my little secret. Forget that I ever mentioned it. Seriously. You’ll be better off in the long run. And there will more of the good stuff left for me.