by Patricia Kusumaningtyas

If you’ve been to the Co-op recently, you might have noticed beautiful jars from the Trade Street Jam Co. on a shelf across from the vegetable display, near the cashier. Their simple yet powerful packaging design and their unique flavors may have caught your eyes. Well, it’s time to believe the hype—the versatility of Trade Street jams makes them a powerful tool in your kitchen and a great addition to your meals.

This Black-owned, woman-owned jam company has its humble beginnings in an apartment on Trade Street in Charlotte, North Carolina, and currently operates here in Brooklyn. Their unique flavors are a result of careful curation by their in-house chef, producing varieties such as Strawberry Chipotle & Fig, Smoked Yellow Peach, and Sour Cherry Ginger which could definitely be an adventure for your taste buds. Even better, their jams are 100% vegan and processed in a gluten-free facility. 

The most noticeable difference between Trade Street jams and your regular jam is its texture: this jam is way more liquidy than others. This is because the company doesn’t use any kind of thickener or stabilizer in their products. The jam’s texture opens up room to experiment. You can use Trade Street jams for marinades, charcuterie boards, tea flavoring, salad dressings, and even cocktail mixes. I recently bought their Plum & Rose jam and put it on my latkes. I also made a sweet sambal sauce with it, mixing the jam with ground chili peppers and salt. You can also freeze it for a more spreadable consistency. With this jam, the possibilities are endless—and you’ll always feel good enjoying it.