Easy Homemade Mulberry Jam

Mulberries are an under appreciated fruit often cursed by homeowners because when ripe, they fall to the ground from the trees they grow on and usually make a mess on patios and walkways unless the birds get to them first. So why not harvest this delicious fruit and convert it into this easy jam? 

Getting Familiar with Mulberries

Here's a brief overview of the characteristics of mulberries so you can familiarize yourself with them before making the jam.

There are three types of mulberries: White, red, and black (sometimes confused with blackberries). Each variety has its own flavor profile with certain similarities. Overall, the fruit is sweet, juicy, and refreshing with slightly tart notes, the black variety being the sweetest. Mulberries are delicious, whether fresh, frozen, or dried, and are a versatile addition to salads, jams, desserts, and even savory dishes.

The tricky thing is that mulberries don't all ripen simultaneously. That's one of the reasons you'll rarely see them as a commercial crop. Also, they’re quite delicate, which means they bruise easily. Because of this, they don’t ship well and have a short shelf life.

How to Harvest Mulberries

An easy way to harvest the berries in large batches is to lay a ground cloth underneath the tree and shake the lower branches. The ripe mulberries will fall onto the cloth. If mulberry trees are out of reach, or you can’t find fresh mulberries, you can use defrosted frozen mulberries for this recipe instead.

Mulberries have a central stem called the peduncle, which connects the fruit to the tree’s branches. Depending on the variety, the stem can extend a short distance into the berry or run the entire length.

Removing the stems before making this jam is important because they won’t break down during cooking. Although the stems aren’t too chewy or at all offensive-tasting, it's not very visually appealing to see long stems floating around in this jammy goodness. If you're short on time, plan to stem the berries up to one day in advance, storing them covered in the refrig until you're ready to use them.

Health Benefits of Mulberries

These nutritious berries are rich in resveratrol, a natural antioxidant present in the fruit’s skin. Promising research on resveratrol indicates that it may have cardiovascular benefits, cancer-fighting properties, and promote brain health as well as longevity. Some essential vitamins found in mulberries include Vitamin C, K, A, E, and B complex, which give them even greater value and appeal.

Mulberries don't have enough pectin on their own, which is why we doubled up on the pectin for this recipe to make sure the jam thickens and sets. We prefer liquid pectin because it dissolves instantly and is easy to use. You might be tempted to cut back on the quantity of sugar called for, but don't. The sugar acts as a preservative while boosting the strength of the pectin, therefore helping with the gelling process.

What You'll Need to Make This Mulberry Jam Recipe

A Water Bath Canner

A Set of Handy Dandy Canning Tools

A Set of Canning Jars and Lids