You have to love a brand that’s named for its (rescue) dog!
LunaGrown Jam is named for founder Christopher Wilson’s dog Luna, a rescue from a shelter in da Bronx. Let loose on the farm, she headed out, later to be found munching on a wild blueberry bush and a jam company got it’s name.
Located in Cuddlebackville (yes, it’s a real place) in the Western part of the Hudson Valley, LunaGrown utilizes a few acres on a private farm, and procures from “local growers who share our views on responsible and sustainable farming.”
All the jams are made in small batches, no more than 24 jars to a batch. The jams are mostly traditional flavors. There’s a New York Grape which uses local Concord, Candice and Riesling grapes to give it a full-bodied flavor. Other traditional offerings include, strawberry, cherry and blackberry.
On a more exotic front, you can delight in Lemon Marmalade with Lavender, Honey Mango or Pineapple Jams.
I was the lucky recipient of a lovely gift box, with jars of Blueberry and Spiced Fig Jams and founder Christopher Wilson’s book Beyond the Bread. It’s a guidebook/cookbook and has hundreds of ideas for pairing jams with cheeses, wines and even beers. There are sections on making your own beverages using jams, long with recipes to put all the flavors to some new uses.
I immediately opened the blueberry and basically ate it out of the jar. It was great—not too sweet and not too thick—just lots of pure blueberry flavor.
The spiced fig jam was delicious. Figs (which I love) and a hint of spice-mostly cinnamon. My husband said it reminded him of a Fig Newton which was his favorite cookie growing up. I liked it because it had great fig taste without being too sweet. That morning I added it to my yogurt with some granola—a great way to start the day!
Now I’m ready to get more experimental, with a suggestion from the book to spread the fig jam on warm whole wheat pita bread along with “a generous portion of fresh spinach and feta cheese, served with a balsamic vinaigrette.” Sounds great, doesn’t it?
The jams come packaged in gift-worthy boxes, reflecting Christopher’s background as a visual designer and would make great presents for anyone who loves jam.
LunaGrown is available on their website, or retailers in the Hudson Valley, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Check their website for events and retailers in your area and enjoy!
