Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, had claimed the first batches of her latest As Ever products, including her jam and £21-a-jar honey, had sold out within hours of release
A jam Meghan Markle has released under her new brand As Ever is actually made 2,000 miles from her mansion.
The pricey preserve is said to be “inspired by the recipe Meghan crafted in her home kitchen” and an Instagram video shows a fruity mixture bubbling in a pot at the duchess’ Californian property. However, it has now been revealed the jam – which Meghan sells for £6.50 per jar – is produced in a factory in Illinois, some 2,000 miles from Montecito.
It is actually manufactured by the same US giant which sells Meghan’s £9 packs of herbal tea. It also makes her sold-out orange blossom honey, priced at £21-a-jar – although it is not known whether it manufactures her newly released apricot preserve. Meghan, 43, had claimed last week the first batches of the apricot preserve and other new treats had sold out within hours of release online.
But one tough food critic told the media she felt the jam was “a real disappointment” upon reviewing the fruity spread. Donna Collins blasted the jam, describing it as “too runny” to work.
And mother-of-two Meghan faces more scrutiny today after it has emerged The Republic of Tea factory, which produces the jam, is based on an industrial estate 2,000 miles from Montecito, quite the contrast to the homely image the duchess has presented in marketing for the preserve.
READ MORE: Meghan Markle claims new As Ever wine and £21 honey has nearly sold out already
A source close to the duchess said in order to formulate the commercial product, As Ever started with the spread Meghan makes at home “and worked to develop a version of it that could be produced at scale”.
Meghan’s website, though, describes her “signature” raspberry jam as “inspired by the recipe she made in her home kitchen” – and says it was deliberately crafted with a fluid texture”. On her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, she described harvesting berries and making small batches of jars in her kitchen, adding: “I did save one of 50 for my mom.”
However, a source close to Meghan has confirmed to the Daily Mail that The Republic of Tea makes her As Ever raspberry spread, but a new supplier would soon be used. The Republic of Tea’s headquarters is in Larkspur, California, 350 miles from Meghan’s mansion – but the factory in which the jam is said to be made is in Illinois, which is in the Midwestern United States.
In a statement given to the Mail, Netflix said: “Netflix and As Ever take pride in working with best-in-class vendors that meet our high standards for exceptional products. It’s been exciting to see how much fans have embraced the As Ever product line, with the first two launches selling out so quickly We’re looking forward to continued success as we expand and release more As Ever product throughout the year and beyond.”
The Mirror has approached Republic of Tea for comment.