It’s not your average jam. Drawing on her 15 years of experience as a chef, Ashley Rouse wanted to craft a line of creative yet uncomplicated vegan preserves, that were interesting enough to use as more than mere spreads.
She named the company after the street she lived on in a tiny apartment in North Carolina, although the minority and woman-owned business has come a long way since 2008. Not only did Ashley and her jams migrate all the way to Brooklyn, they’re currently sold all over the United States — think stores in California, Indiana, Texas, Michigan, and right here at Mouth!
It’s easy to see why everyone has been more than ready for this jelly. Not only is it vegan and gluten-free, it’s low in sugar and free of pectin or preservatives. Which produces a thinner consistency than you might be used to, but allows the pure and clean flavors of fruit and botanicals to really shine.
Ashley’s personal favorite in the collection is Plum & Rose, but there’s lots to love about options like Blueberry Lemon Basil, Blackberry Mulled Merlot, Sour Cherry Ginger, and Smoked Peach. And with sweet, savory, floral and herbal combos such as these, the sky’s the limit on culinary applications. They’re great stirred into cocktails, salad dressings, marinades, pan sauces, baked goods, overnight oats and more.
Produce is procured from local vendors and farmers, and Ashley takes her canning process seriously. Working by hand in very small batches, she cleans and hot-fills her jars in order to sanitize, seal, and remove as much oxygen as possible, so the jams remain shelf-stable for up to a year (not that you’ll be able to resist them that long).
Ashley is also all about giving back. She teaches jam classes to kids at underprivileged schools, and hopes to feed the less fortunate with her residual products. No wonder Trade Street Jam Co. is the toast of the town.