“Yummy” is all I can say about my first batch of Beautyberry jelly. Now I know why Green Deane says “I make Beautyberry jelly nearly every weekend it is in season”.
I went foraging with Green Deane a year ago and found out all about beautyberries. Here is his website and the recipe.
1 ½ qts. of Beautyberries, washed and clean of green stems and leaves. Cover with 2 qts. water.Boil 20 minutes and strain to make infusion. Use 3 cups of the infusion, bring to boil, add 1 envelope Sure-Jell and 4 ½ cups sugar. Bring to second boiland boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand until foam forms. Skim off foam, pour into sterilized jars, cap.
I also put my jelly in a water bath canner for 10 minutes so that it doesn’t have to be kept in the fridge and will store longer.
The great thing about this berry is it can be found all over where I live, in Brevard Co. Florida. Most of the berries I used for this recipe were found along Malabar Rd and in a friends drive way. I have some in my yard and a few plants in the empty lot next to my house.
This is the bush in the empty lot next to my home.
I was able to get over 7 cups of infusion from the recipe and it only takes 3 cups to make a batch of jelly. I was able to get 11 – 4oz jars of jelly from one receipe . WOW, that is a lot of jelly and can’t wait to share!
What does it taste like? My husband would describe the taste as a light strawberry.
Cool! I have a beautyberry bush but I though the berries were just for the birds! Thanks!
It is yummy jelly. People are afraid to taste it but have not found one person that didn’t like it.
Do the berries have to be a certain color? Someone told me they had to be ripe to use. The ones in my yard vary from very little color, to light purple, to medium purple, to a rich deep purple. Any thoughts on the ripeness issue?
Medium purple is good. You don’t want them too ripe or green. It is a light flavor to begin with so the more ripe the better.