“The Not So OG Batch”

Making a fruit punch preserve sounds simple, right? Just take a fruit punch recipe, gather the ingredients, purée them, and make a preserve. But it turned out to be a bit more complex. Still, we knew two things going in: 1) we wanted a fruit punch that could be spread and enjoyed, and 2) we wanted it to feel like a carnival on the taste buds.

Our initial vision was for a strawberry-forward flavor, with citrus and pineapple playing supportive roles. We aimed for a smooth, spreadable texture, which we achieved—only to realize we didn’t love it. The flavors came out muddled and unbalanced, and the final product wasn’t appealing. So, back to the drawing board we went, ready to refine and reimagine this preserve into something truly special.

Sometimes, making preserves is like chasing a memory. The taste, the feel—just out of reach, yet vivid in the mind. That’s where we were, trying to capture the essence of a perfect Caribbean fruit punch in a jar. The last batch had stumbled, so this time we knew exactly how to correct those missteps and keep our eye on the prize.

We began with the pineapple, our first juicy element. Pineapple is a standout on its own—a fruit that fills your mouth with a sweet, tropical flood. We wanted to capture that sensation, the same way our Honey Pineapple Preserve does. So we carefully crafted bite-sized chunks, each one designed to release that juicy burst, making every spoonful as refreshing as it was flavorful.

Next came the oranges. We had a vibrant trio: Blood Oranges for their rich color and depth, Cara Caras for their unique sweetness, and Navels for a classic citrus punch. Combining these gave the blend an unbeatable freshness, like squeezing oranges right over your glass. We focused on the zest, too—slicing it just right. In marmalades, biting into a rind can be a jolt, and I wanted something different here: zest slices big enough to notice, small enough to harmonize. No distractions, just a bright pop of citrus where it belongs.

Then there was the strawberry. Strawberries don’t usually show up in a classic Caribbean fruit punch, but I had this urge to include them—a curiosity that wouldn’t quit. They wouldn’t steal the show, but they’d add something soft and surprising, helping the flavors blend into something unmistakably tropical.

And then came the ingredient that gives the punch its punch: guava. Guava sneaks up on you, a tropical flavor that feels familiar but elusive, like catching a favorite song from across the room. You taste it before you even realize it’s there. It’s subtle but unforgettable.

Finally, there was lime. Simple, yes, but essential. Lime’s brightness pulls everything together; without it, the punch would fall flat. It’s the smallest ingredient with the biggest impact—the underdog that ties the whole story together.

When we finished, we had something special. This was it, the carnival fruit punch we’d been after. Every element was there, dancing together like a celebration in a jar. We cooked the batch almost to perfection, reaching that beautiful moment where everything just worked. But then, in our excitement, we got too comfortable. We took our eyes off the pot for one moment too long, and just like that, we burnt the batch.

But here’s the thing: we loved it. Even burnt, this batch was a triumph. We kept eating it, savoring it, knowing we’d finally cracked the code. We didn’t toss it out; instead, we tasted it for days, laughing about how close we’d come. And now? Now, we know just what to do to make it again—this time without the burn.

After the last batch, we were determined to recreate that vibrant fruit punch blend—this time without any burnt edges. So we kept our eyes on every single step, literally. What we ended up with was something we hadn’t planned for but couldn’t resist: a “marmalade jam.” It was too juicy and bright to call a marmalade, yet too zippy and layered to fit neatly as a jam, jelly, or even a traditional preserve.

Thus, the Carnival Fruit Punch Marmalade Jam was born. The flavors dance between tropical sweetness and citrus tang, capturing that unmistakable burst of fruit punch with every bite. It's bold, juicy, and perfectly balanced—a blend that feels like a celebration in a jar, with every spoonful evoking the spirit of carnival.