A fruit of many names, the serviceberry is also referred to as the juneberry, saskatoonberry, sarvisberry, shadberry, wild plum, or sugarplum plant. In mid-June (...right around now!) they begin to ripen, turning dark red or purple, and can be picked right off the branch to eat or preserve.
Which begs the question: what to do with all of those serviceberries/ saskatoonberries/ juneberries? Eaten raw, they'll taste sweet and juicy like a blueberry. This little berry packs a big culinary punch. Here we explain how to make a delectable serviceberry jam.
Steps to a Simple Serviceberry Jam:
- De-stem and rinse berries
- Cook on medium, mashing with a fork or potato masher periodically
- Add almost an equal amount of sugar
- Add a squeeze of lemon juice, stir
- Simmer on low (20-40 minutes)
Freezer Test Method:
Here's how to test what the consistency of your jam will be once cooled...
- Take a small dish and place in the freezer for ~15 minutes
- Put a half teaspoon jam on it
- Put back in freezer for ~2 minutes
- Taste it, is it thick enough?
Juneberries are a great addition to any landscape!