Blackcurrant jam
recipes :: posted on January 8th, 2009
Most of my days are filled with writing my paper at the moment, but of course there are moments when I take a break and make jam or write about making jam! The blackcurrants were full and black and beckoning me to spend a moment in the kitchen. It is one of the simplest jams to make as it doesn’t need to be nursed into life, it just happens! Plenty of fruit acid there I guess.
Picking the currants is the first chore, and as pleasant as it is to be out in the garden with the birds singing and bees buzzing, picking out all the stalks and leaves that come with the fruit does take some time and patience. I have only one bush that is producing well, but one kilo of fruit is enough to make about 6 jars of jam which is plenty for the year.
To each kilo of fruit (or 2 lbs) add 750 mls (1 1/2 pints) of water and simmer until the fruit is cooked.
This will take about 10 minutes I guess, but be careful that it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot when it thickens a bit. You know your there if it starts doing that!
Add 1.5 kg (3 lb) of sugar and stir to dissolve.
Now the jam needs to boil to reach the setting point, but I find that it is best to put the timer on to ten minutes as soon as the jam reaches boiling point as it will probably be ready at the ten minute mark, which is the minimum for making jam to ensure that it will keep for the year. To check for the setting point, dip your wooden spoon into the jam then lift it up on its side so that the jam drips off. When you see about 5 drops fall with the last one looking like jam stuck to the spoon, then it is ready! My recipe says that you can add apples or rhubarb to stretch the volume, but I never bother as it makes plenty anyway.
I do wonder though – do other countries have blackcurrants as well? Are they growing in the backyards of Canadians, Irish and South American people? Norway? (etc…)
January 8th, 2009 at 5:19 am
Yum! I used to have a blackcurrant bush but a bear destroyed it, also have red currant. I remember they were in every Finnish garden too.
January 9th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
lucky we have no bears! apart from koala bears, but not in tasmania – possums yes, but i can’t say i have noticed that they like blackcurrants… what a wonderful image i have for your blackcurrant bush now being ebjoyed by a bear! i just love the translucent glow of the redcurrants – must get one in now that you have reminded me.