ChattyCathy wrote:

> OK. This still confuses me. I'm hoping some of the USA folks can
> 'enlighten' me.
>
> In this part of the world 'jam' is what you spread on bread, scones,
> between layers of cake etc. and is usually made from fruit (and sometimes
> veggies). It can be smooth or 'chunky' i.e. it sometimes contains nice
> bits of fruit and sometimes it's 'pureed' (for want of a better word).
>
> 'Jelly' is the stuff we usually get in a packet that contains a bunch of
> sugar/sweetener, gelatin, and artificial flavoring that you mix with
> (boiling) water which you allow to cool and then refrigerate until it
> 'sets'. It is often served with custard as a 'dessert'. I have gathered
> that this what is known as 'jello' in the USA.
>
> So my question is this: Why do folks from the USA sometimes call it jam
> and sometimes jelly? What's the distinction?

The stuff that comes in a packet and which is mixed with boiling and then cold
water is Jell-O, and it is made with gelatine. It is quite common for people to
refer to it as "jelly" though it isn't really jelly.


Jams and jellies are made from fruit. Jams is made with prepared fruit, usually
cut into small pieces, though small fruits like berries may be left more or less
whole. Jellies are made with strained fruit so you get mainly the juice, no seeds
and no bits of fruit. I have never seen grape jam, only grape jelly, probably
because concord grapes have big seeds and tasty but chewy skins, so grapes are
juiced and the jelly is made from the juice. Raspberries contain a lot of seeds,
which can be annoying to a lot of people, and you can get /make raspberry jam or
jelly.