Blackberry Mint & Whisky Jam



If there’s one thing that mom-in-law and I have in common, we both agree that “free food is good food”. I bet you’ll all agree with me.
Well you see, we both have this passion (I even call it a disease) of mixing sports (could be hiking, biking or even a small promenade) with fruit and vegetable gathering. The rules are simple: keep your eyes wide open, be a MacGyver have all the necessary things you’ll be needing in your pocket or backpack (a Swiss knife but of course the most important thing is your plastic bag where you’ll put your harvest) and a little bit of courage and patience. I mean courage and patience because sometimes you must climb. Sometimes you needed to enter in the bushes of thorns, sometimes it could be dirty and messy. And of course you need to be strong too against the voice of your husband shouting and calling “hurry up, where are you?” sorts like that. You know men they hated shopping. Just go on anyways they will surely enjoy the fruits of your labor after. I couldn’t count with my hands the free good stuffs that we’ve enjoyed already; wild berries, wild asparagus, mushrooms, apples, figs, apricots, all kinds of nuts without counting the wild aromatic herbs abundant in our region. And would you believe that they are even better from the one we can buy in the supermarket for its mother earth that nurtured it free from pesticides and fertilizers.
Last Sunday morning, we decided to take a short walk before taking our breakfast in the field not far from our place. It was a peaceful thirty minute walk and a kilo of wild blackberries :-) Not bad! This is my not so Wordless Wednesday edition! :-)
By the way, I'll be sending some of this wild blackberry jam over at Passionatecook for August edition of Waiter there's Something in my.....with Picnic ideas for a theme. This month's theme is also co-hosted by Cooksister and Spittoon Extra. This is definitely practical for picnics; you can top it over your baguette, yogurt, pannacotta or ice-cream.

Blackberry Mint & Whisky Jam

1 kilo of blackberries
1 kilo of sugar
100 g of mint leaves crushed
5 cl of Whisky (about a quarter of a small glass)

Start first by washing your blackberries. We cannot take the risk. Dry them up in a paper towel. Then put them in a big bowl then add up the sugar and crushed mint leaves. Let it macerate for at least an hour. You can stir it from time to time until a deep bluish black juice comes out. Cook this in a casserole over low fire. Skim some foam if necessay. But there's very few for my blackberry jam. To check if your jam is ready, get a spoonful of liquid and put it on a glass of iced water, as soon as thickens when cold it is ready. If it still remains liquid continue cooking. As soon as the jam is ready add your whisky and stir it.
-------------- Well, the whisky is actually optional. You can put more or less depending on your preference. Or you none at all. Blackberries are already great as it is!



for my french readers, the french version is here: http://www.lesfoodies.com/news/recette/confiture-mures-parfumee-menthe-fraiche

My other jam recipes:

Apricot Cinnamon Jam

Lime and Watermelon Jam

31 comments:

Clumbsy Cookie said...

Oh wow! 1 kilo, really? Of course i agree with you, free food is great food! Lol! Nice looking jam!

CK Ng said...

That sure was delicious! Have a wonderful WW! :)

Heather said...

Looks delicious!!! Happy WW!

Anonymous said...

The blackberries and whiskey sound great together. I bet you can make a cocktail with that too.

Anonymous said...

Wow! You can get a KILO of blackberries just by taking a walk??? I won't be able to get one bit even if I go to the grocery here... :(

Your jam looks so delish!!!

eatingclubvancouver_js said...

The blackberries are gorgeous!

And the fact that they're wild and you've foraged for them: that's priceless.

Your story makes me happy that we still have some opportunity to forage in the wild. I'm becoming afraid that sooner or later even our air would be under corporate control. They'll be metering us, like they'll do with water.

Oops, sorry for the doom and gloom -- back to the happy-inducing blackberries!

Alexa said...

We have blackberries growing everywhere here too... One could go nuts on a hike. This recipe is awesome and so unique. It looks so tasty!

Suzana Parreira said...

Blackberry Jam sounds good, and if blackberries are free that sounds even better! Great looking jam, Dhanggit!

Adam said...

Free does in fact make anything that much better :) Question though, how did you find THAT MANY berries? Do you have like Rambo berry tracking skills? If you do, I'm super jealous and want to hike with you :) Maybe we'll stumble on gold.

Gabi said...

I love foraging for free food too! I do have a blackberry bush in my back garden though so I won't have to go far to ge the makings of your delicious looking jam!
Thanks mmmm

La Bella Cooks said...

My husband is treating a farmer who gave us loads of blackberries. Now I know what to do with them all! This sounds delicious...maybe on a warm scone! Gorgeous photos!

glamah16 said...

Your so lucky you live in place with all that free abundance. That jam is looking mighty good!

Oggi said...

I love the addition of whiskey and the blackberries sure look fresh and pretty.

Manggy said...

H.. Hey! I'm a man and I like shopping!! :P Beautiful, deep (spiked) jam you've made, Dhanggit! :)

Anonymous said...

what a creative way of preserving those beautiful black berries... :)

grace said...

what a great recipe! when i go blackberry picking, i usually eat more than i put into my pail, but if i ever make it back with a proper amount, i'll save 'em for this. :)

lubnakarim06 said...

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thepassionatecook said...

now here's a thought: not to take something ON your walk, but bring something back from it!! jams are always a favourite here, i found some great bilberries on my last trip into the woods - bet the recipe will work with those, too! thanks for your contribution!

NKP said...

Great looking jam! Free is always better. I like the whisky addition to the party.

Mike of Mike's Table said...

Ooo, you had me at whisky! This sounds like a delicious jam

Leslie said...

"Well, the whisky is actually optional"! No missy..I think you meant to say, "the whisky is A MUST!"

Gloria Baker said...

Dear Dhanggit I really love blackberry's Jam In the summer I make too sis!!!! hugs.....!!!!Gloria

Anonymous said...

woah... you are making your own Jam! So pro!! The blackberry photos are gorgeous :) btw, I have a little surprise for you at my blog ;)

Bunny said...

Oh my this looks good! It doesn't get any better than FREE!!

Deeba PAB said...

I've heard someone use the word kilo after ages Dhhangit & it sounds good. Can I have a little jar too please? It's beautiful & the free food is good food is TRUE! My childhood went climbing mango & tamarind tress & eating small berries off bushes. I love the flavours happily marrying each other in that jar...scrumtious!!

Anonymous said...

LOL...gosh I pay 3$ for 50 gr, you got kilo for free... *sigh* lucky you... a great entry, well done :)

Cakelaw said...

Wonderful looking jam Dhanggit.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Your jam sounds delicious!

haze said...

Love blackberries and used to pick them in Corsica and yes good food for free is definitely the best :D! I was happy picking them from the forest in Corsica and well I made a tart out of it, all I need to have is egg, dough, white cream and sugar that's it ;)!

bee said...

three of my favourite ingredients. lovely.

Want to Feel Younger??? said...

whats the conversion to cup or ounces?